Crago September 28th 2013 -A visitor's first attempt at serious night sky photography

[anders_lange]

Hi everybody

Here are some of the result after my first serious attempt of night sky photography. It was also the first time under the Australian night sky (I'm from Denmark).

https://picasaweb.google.com/114640486908621876057/NightSkyPhotographyCragoObservatory NSWAustralia20130928#59297604876044 47138

First shot... forgot to turn off my head lamp and ISO-400 is clearly too low at 60 seconds exposure, but gives a nice feeling for the environment.

The Milkyway is clearly seen in top, with Venus shining extremely bright in the center of the image.

Crago Observatory, Bowen Mountain, NSW, Australia, 7.31pm, September 28th 2013.

[1x60 sec. exposure @ iso 400 captured with Backyard EOS using: Canon EOS 650D, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 lens @ 11mm and the iOptron Skytracker (with very bad polar alignment), Postprocessing done in LightRoom].

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https://picasaweb.google.com/114640486908621876057/NightSkyPhotographyCragoObservatory NSWAustralia20130928#59297605075033 98930


The Milkyway and Venus seen from Bowen mountain at Crago Observatory 7.39pm, September 28th 2013.

[1x60 sec. exposure @ iso 800 captured with Backyard EOS using: Canon EOS 650D, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 lens @ 11mm and the iOptron Skytracker (with very bad polar alignment), Postprocessing done in LightRoom].

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https://picasaweb.google.com/114640486908621876057/NightSkyPhotographyCragoObservatory NSWAustralia20130928#59297605230624 88978

The Milkyway as "seen" from Bowen mountain at Crago Observatory from 7.58 - 8.35pm, September 28th 2013.

[30 x 60 sec. exposures @ iso 1600, calibrated with 20 dark & 20 bias frames captured with Backyard EOS using: Canon EOS 650D, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 lens @ 11mm and the iOptron Skytracker (with poor polar alignment), Postprocessing done in LightRoom & PixInsight]

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Hope to see some you guys back at Crago next month :)

Regards
Anders Lange

[ourkind]

Hi Anders! Sorry I never got around to chat with you on Saturday night, there were so many people about, it was hard to keep track of everyone in the dark. Clearly you were also very focused with your first serious attempt at night sky photography and may I say they are very good! You should be very happy with these results. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Just think how much better they can be once you find that elusive southern hemisphere celestial pole!

Today I was going through some of the panorama photographs I took on Saturday night and noticed that there is a guy sitting on the floor with a computer and his dslr mounted on a ioptron, this has to be you! I'll post it in the next few days once it's finished :)

Hope to see you there at the end of this month, weather permitting of course and we'll see what we can do about polar aligning that mount of yours!!

Here's a thread regarding the ioptron and some methods used to polar align them http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=104352

See you then!

Regards.
Carlos.

[malau]

Hey Anders. Nice to meet you there as well :)

[anders_lange]

Hi Carlos

It was me you saw, I was the only one there with the iOptron Skytracker :)

Thanks for nice words about my results, I'm also quite satisfied :D

I will definitely do what I can to come to Crago at the end of this month! I'm just hoping to be able to catch a ride with someone going there, at least from Richmond, as the bus only goes up to Grose Vale despite of the timetables saying it actually should go all the way to Bowen mountainpark.

So last time I had to walk all the way from Grose Vale with my gear :confused2:. Luckily I cought a ride back to Sydney (Glebe) with Dean who lives very close to (Ultimo).

Regards
Anders

[anders_lange]

Nice to meet you too, although I'm not intirely sure who you are, since I meet quite a few people and it was so dark.

But I'm hoping to get back up to Crago at the end of this month, so maybe I'll see you there?

Regards
Anders

[Ross G]

Great looking photos Anders.

I really like your Milky Way.

Good luck.

Ross.

[malau]

:lol:

Thats ok. I guess my friend talked to you "a lot" (group of 5 next to you). Yeah I probably will be there next round but TBC

[SkyViking]

Some great images there Anders, that's an impressive first attempt for sure.
BTW I'm also from Denmark, living across the ditch in Auckland where I have my observatory.

[anders_lange]

Hi Rolf

Thanks a lot, I'm also quite happy with the results of my first attempt :)

I had a quick look at your website.... :thumbsup: VERY impressive pictures and I really like your DIY telescope!!!

Regards
Anders

[anders_lange]

Hi Malau (David)

Would any of you guys happen to be going to Crago the following weekend (Saturday 26th)?

I would rally like to go, but since there are no public transport further than Grose Val, and I also would like to be able to get back to Sydney later in evening, I'm kind'a looking for someone whom I would be able to get a ride with. I will of course be happy to chip in for the gas :)

Regards
Anders

[malau]

Hi Anders,

Consider the bushfire at the blue mountain area I may have to send a msg to Richard first to confirm of the meeting still go ahead or not ... my friends seems may not go due to the bushfire in that area.. I will let you know asap

[ourkind]

Hi Anders,

You can hitch a ride with me up the mountain if you can meet me at Carlton Station (Illawarra line) around 2:30pm on Saturday. I'm heading up the mountain early to mow the lawn and check on weather conditions to make the call on whether we open or not. So far it's looking promising.

As for getting back to Sydney I plan to stay until 4 or 5am so if you want to leave earlier you may need to hitch a ride back with someone else, but I don't mind dropping you off home.

My number is 0422300649.

Regards.
Carlos.

[malau]

Hi Carlos,

Thanks for the reply. I PMed Richard before :lol: