Exmouth Eclipse - high res with 6" scopes and 8K cameras
It has taken me ten months and 300 hours of image processing, but I've finally published the images from my Exmouth eclipse expedition. Just in time to be an inspiration for others in North America April 2024, cause I'm not going!
This was a pretty wild approach to eclipse imaging, only possible with the support of equipment sponsors:
Three six-inch and one four-inch Sky-Watcher refractors is a lot of glass to deliver maximum light and resolution to the cameras.
Capturing more than a thousand 8K video frames at the full sensor resolution of two Sony a1 cameras provides a lot of data for the enhancement steps, even helping counteract the atmospheric ‘seeing’ at such long focal lengths.
Four telescope and camera combinations allowed each camera to be dedicated to one primary exposure, allowing even the wider stills cameras to simply burst at a fixed shutter speed, gathering hundreds of exposures in well under 50 seconds (allowing for longer exposures around 2nd and 3rd contacts).
The two main scopes were carried on my Sky-Watcher EQ8-Rh mount with high-resolution encoders. This meant no periodic error during 50 seconds of totality and facilitated accurate alignment and integration of the video frames.
Indeed, a truly and epic and sustained effort...but I will say, my drive from Sydney was a little further
Never let the facts get in the way of a good story!
As phrased, it is still true that from Vic you can't get much further away.. and if measured in number of engines required, then i travelled twice as far
Never let the facts get in the way of a good story!
As phrased, it is still true that from Vic you can't get much further away.. and if measured in number of engines required, then i travelled twice as far
Indeed, thankfully I didn't have to do SA leg twice.
But did pick up not one, but two "speeding" fines in WA...albeit with zero demerits...5Km over? In the middle of no-where? Seriously?
Thankfully the NSW coppers have a far more pragmatic approach. Bless 'em.
My favourite view is the cropped 1200mm FOV. So much delicious detail in both prominences and corona.
Quote:
Originally Posted by N1
Massive effort with awesome results. Very enjoyable read too!
Thanks guys. And I really appreciate you taking the time to read the blog too. The images have not a lot more meaning when you know what went into them!
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
Quite the journey Phil, must make the Tetons effort and associated ordeal, seem altogether quite pleasant in comparison, I am sure ...
Anyway, some rather awesome looking results mate!
Mike
Thanks Mike. Yep.. given there was no overseas travel involved I sure found a way to make this hard. Not sure I have another like this in me! Still more editing to go.. then a rest soon
Well done Phil
The earthshine moon is the icing on the cake of the eclipse image!
Looking forward to the video you mentioned in the story.
Best
JA
Thanks JA. Earthshine was challenging with such a narrow moon and bright proms/chromosphere/inner corona. Longer exposures got totally blown out and the stack of video exposures worked surprisingly well, even though only 1/25 sec.
Quote:
Originally Posted by big-blue
Wow Phil, thanks for sharing the amazing back story to your awe inspiring results. I look forward to the video.!
best regards, Gerhard (ASSA)
Indeed, thankfully I didn't have to do SA leg twice. 
