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Howdy Emu,
Just saw this thread. I've been using EAA / VA for ten years and more, initially for occultation observing, and later adding in astronomy outreach at Penrith observatory.
It provides real-time views of galaxies that are otherwise invisible at Penrith. It shows planetary nebulae with details that are otherwise invisible at Penrith.
It shows gaseous nebulae (M17, M20, M8, the KeyHole nebula around eta Carinae, etc) that are otherwise invisible at Penrith.
I use a Meade LX90-10" with a 0.5x focal reducer, a Point Grey Grasshopper Express, and a laptop. The focal reducer introduces coma at the periphery of most images, which would be unacceptable to a genuine astgrophotographer, but for real-time live sky images has proven to be acceptable to the general populace.
This shows many night sky objects that the visitors to Penrith Observatory would like to see - but cannot see visually due to the worsening light pollution.
I personally recommend EAA / VA without hesitation.
The following images are singular images, with no darks or flats applied. Just as they came from the screen. The Hickson 90 group is however special - it was acquired through the Evans 30" Dobsonian telescope at Linden Observatory. Again, it is a singular image of 5 second exposure, with no darks or flats.
Regards,
Tony Barry
WSAAG
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