Pointing aCross the Keel

[Camelopardalis]

Wasn't sure if this would be more appropriate in Deep Space or Nightscapes, so forgive the intrusion...

Here's a shot I took from Wiruna last session as an experiment with the Fujifilm X-E1 with XF 27mm lens on a non-tracking camera tripod, stacked from 40x 15 second subs using ISO2500 and f/2.8. The jpeg compression down to below 200kb doesn't really do it any favours, but I hope you get the idea that there's lots and lots of stars out there.

The pinks and purples seem to blossom quite readily with this camera compared to my Canon 1100D, so I'm inclined to believe that the IR cut is more of a roll-off than a chop-off.

I'm really looking forward to pointing this at some proper pints of Milky Way in the coming months, on a tracking mount too :D

[Allan_L]

That is a really nice shot Dunk! :thumbsup:
Almost exactly the same FOV as a Poster I bought at the Parkes' Dish, except that yours shows quite a bit more fine detail (even with the jpeg compression).
Do you have a link to higher resolution version?

[Camelopardalis]

Thanks Allan!

I'm in the process of setting up some image hosting, but it's not live yet. If I'm honest, it looks OK at 1024 or 1280 pixels wide, and without such crazy compression lots of stars shine through, but at double that size the limitations of the non-tracking mount and aberrations of the lens creep in :ashamed:

[Ross G]

A great looking wide photo Dunk.

Beautiful colours and so much detail...I can see the Dark Doodad so clearly.

With a tracking mount you have the potential there for some amazing photos.

Good luck.

Ross.

[Camelopardalis]

Thanks Ross! Yeah I'm pretty keen for the next clear New Moon :D