Star Trails over the Anglo-Australian Observatory

[Allar]

As a new member I first I like to say a big hello to all of you. I'm an amateur astronomer from Finland and will enjoy your amazing dark skies until July 2009. I'm studying in Sydney and got a job from the AAO for the summer vacation. I was couple of weeks on the telescope site and tried to take some star trail images very first time (Inspired by David Malin of course) ;)

http://www.allarscopes.com/valokuvaus/AAO/startrails1b.html

Equipment:
Canon EOS 20D
220 30s frames combined (Nearly 2h) + 4 Dark Frames
ISO 1600, F3.5, f=18mm

A full Moon rised end of the exposures. The tree near by is illuminated with a torch.

Cheers,
Allar

[rogerg]

Welcome :welcome:

Nice shot! I like the contrast, nice and bright dome and stars. I also like how the South Celestial Pole is just barely behind the tree :thumbsup:

[gary]

Hi Allar,

Thanks for the post and welcome to Sydney. Nice picture!

You have undoubtedly run into a couple of our colleagues at the AAO,
Lew Waller there at Epping and Steve Lee up at Coona. Steve is also
a keen observer. Hopefully you also got to chat with Donna Burton
and Rob McNaught, both of who are associated with the ANU side of
things. Rob & Donna are both keen observers, however Rob's NEO
search work fully occupies all clear nights.

The AAO offices are a great place to work, their instrumentation team
are among the very best in the world (if not the best in the world)
and there are some really talented & interesting to people to talk to there at
morning tea and lunch time.

Once again, thanks for the introduction and I hope the opportunity
presents itself to do some observing with some fellow forum members.

Don't forget we have the South Pacific Star Party coming up in May if
you are still out here then. :thumbsup:

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080
Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[DJDD]

I agree, hiding the SCP behind the edge of the tree seemed to work well.
great shot.

thanks for posting.

[iceman]

Beautiful image and :welcome: to IceInSpace!

[h0ughy]

wow great image - must have enjoyed getting that one

[Virgs]

Sublime!!!

[Ric]

Very spectacular image Allar and welcome to IIS as well

[Hagar]

Welcome and great image. Would be better with the bottom cropped off.

[Allar]

Thank you for the kind comments! I didn't mentioned that I also made videos out of photos.

First night with ISO1600:
http://www.allarscopes.com/sekalaista/australia/Star_trail.wmv

Second night with ISO3600
http://www.allarscopes.com/sekalaista/australia/Star_trail2.wmv

You can see the same daily plane coming from horizon. Also the rise of the moon is visible.

[atalas]

Nice ! makes me want to take another trip to Coona.

[Chrissyo]

Hello from a fellow AAO summer student. :)

Great images! Hope to see some more in the next few weeks! :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

that is one of the best movies i have seen for some time - i love the second one - the clouds make it