Exmouth Eclipse - high res with 6" scopes and 8K cameras

[Phil Hart]

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.


Full story with more images: https://philhart.com/exmouth-eclipse

Three other important thanks to note:

Diego and Paul at Sidereal Trading
Brett, Jasmine and Riley in Exmouth
Colin Legg for collaboration and inspiration on the processing journey


Thanks!

Enjoy - Phil

[Maurice]

Great story and great images Phil.
A testament to your skill and dedication!
Well done.


Cheers
Maurice

[Peter Ward]

Indeed, a truly and epic and sustained effort...but I will say, my drive from Sydney was a little further :)

What superb results! (Phil has already heard from me on this)

It really doesn't get much better than this.

Well done mate. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Phil Hart]

Thanks again Peter :)



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 :help:

[Phil Hart]

Thanks Maurice!

[Peter Ward]

:lol: 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.

[Dave882]

Phenomenal images. Worth the wait!!

[N1]

Massive effort with awesome results. Very enjoyable read too!

[Retrograde]

Amazing work Phil!

My favourite view is the cropped 1200mm FOV. So much delicious detail in both prominences and corona. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Quite the journey Phil, must make the Tetons effort and associated ordeal, seem altogether quite pleasant in comparison, I am sure :eyepop: :lol:...

Anyway, some rather awesome looking results mate! :thumbsup:

Mike

[Phil Hart]

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!



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 ;)

[gregbradley]

That's an amazing effort Phil and the results are stunning.

I think I will wait til the Sydney eclipse and I can view it from my backyard!

Greg.

[Ryderscope]

Your sustained effort on this one Phil is beyond comparison. The results speak for themselves and you must be very proud of the achievements.

[Phil Hart]

Thanks Greg. As long as the winter skies are clear!



Thanks Rodney! Proud yes, tired also!

[JA]

Well done Phil :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
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

[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)

[Phil Hart]

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.



Thanks Gerhard!

[Phil Hart]

In case you missed it, there's also a video on YouTube now:

https://youtu.be/wbf5UIunkOI

I'm biased but I think it's worth a very quick look!

Phil

[John W]

Terrific images and video Phil - well worth the effort.
Thanks, John W.

[Peter Ward]

Now a well deserved NASA APOD (https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240402.html)


Well done mate :thumbsup:

[Satchmo]

What a fantastic read and meticulous project , Phil.


I've just been enjoying the Moon at sunrise with one of the your ex 150ED's this morning.