The Milky Way from inside my Observatory

[PhotonCollector]

Hello everyone,

Here's an image I did not long after I first got my Canon EOS. It's a composite image which shows the Milky Way as seen at the time from my backyard observatory.

Telescope: Piggybacked Camera on Telescope.
Camera: Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel (not modified).
Exposures:
Image of the Milky Way
2 x 5 minutes f/5.6 focal length 46mm ISO200
Image of Telescope
30 seconds f/5 focal length 18mm ISO1600
Total Exposure time 10 minutes for Milky Way.
Filter/equipment. Used Canon 18-55mm lens.

Higher Resolution Image http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/2004_08_21.html

Even though I took the image some time ago - I still like it and thought everyone should see it too !

Best regards
Paul Mayo

[rogerg]

Very nice. I always enjoy this kind of shot with the telescope in the FOV and nice stars behind.

All these great DSLR shots I keep seeing I'm not sure I'm going to servive until mid March when I finally have mine.

Roger.

[RB]

Paul that's a stunning image.
Wow thanks for posting it, but don't ever hold out on us again.
You should have posted it earlier.

Amazing stuff.
:)

[Lester]

Hi Paul,

Nice shot. I guess by the amount of detail in the photo that your set up is in the country. :astron:

[PhotonCollector]

Geeday RocketBoy,

Glad you like it.

Clear Skies
Paul Mayo

[davidpretorius]

it looked familiar, and it was. i had seen it on your website and been so impressed back then when you first joined this forum.

brilliant!

[h0ughy]

thats a good shot Paul. Tell me how did you get the poster of the Milky Way to stay still until you took the photo:lol: !

very nicely done mate:prey2: :love: ;)

[PhotonCollector]

Regarding the poster: my first idea was to have an assistant hold it, but then I found replacing the assistant with a ladder will hold the poster much more firmly in place. :lol:

Paul

[[1ponders]]

Wow. Great framing and presentation Paul. Thanks for sharing it.

[beren]

Wow thats a awesome image :) well done

[tornado33]

Yes I remember when you showed it to me, dramatically shows the life of an astro imager :)
Scott

[h0ughy]

See i am vindicated, I knew you were there holding that poster Scott:wink2: . Paul I would love an observatory like that, with stars similar to yours, but scott collects all the photons in Wallsend before I can have a chance to see:whistle:

[PhotonCollector]

Hi Lester,

The country ? well not really, I live on the western edge of Newcastle.
I guess it depends of relativity - by comparison to Sydney or Melbourne, you could call it the country - but if you compare my skies to say Lostock (where the 2006 AstroCamp was held) - then my skies really make me wonder how I get any decent images at all.

The partially closed observatory roof and observatory walls really block a tremendous amount of light pollution - I have a major street lamp out the front of the house and several in the streets that surround me - neighbour lights often shine onto or into the observatory as well.

best regards
Paul Mayo

[danielsun]

Thats fantastic!!! ;)

[PhotonCollector]

Thanks all for your comments. Glad you like the image.

I think the Observatory and Telescope add perspective and size to the night sky during winter. After taking the images of the Milky Way I immediately removed the camera and physically held it on the bottom end of the telescope. Then I zoomed the camera lens to match the same bright stars I could see from inside the observatory - I was trying to get 1:1 zoom (or zero zoom) and did a a 30-second exposure @ ISO1600 to get the outline of the telescope.

So the best I could, the Milky Way is in the same size and orientation as seen from the observatory at that time.

Now you all know, where I spend most clear nights.

Paul

[tornado33]

Yes thats why I took up astrophotography, the images we can get under such light polluted skies are brighter than can be seen with a mighty 20 inch visually from a dark site, and in full colour too!
Scott