New images 25yrs on

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

I had some old negatives scanned for a presentation I gave to IISAC back in Jan 2007 but I never got around to putting them on my web site.

I thought some of you might like to see them?

Here is an 8 panel mozaic of the Milky Way I did when I was a teenager in March 1984, so exactly 25 years ago now... :

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...64272/original

Here is a David Malin amplified cold camera negative of NGC 4945 from teh same year (compare it to that done by Marcus ...oh how technology marches on...)

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...64273/original

and here is yours truly with his equipment a quater of a century ago:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...64271/original

and a close up of my wide field imaging gear on the job:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...64269/original

There is a link under to some Hallleys Comet shots taken with the Pentax 6X7 lenses too.
How far we have come ...although in real life the Milky Way mozaic would probably still hold it's own at the David Malin Awards I recon, especially for the huge size it was at approx 1.5m X 0.8m (making it an illegal entry size of course )

Mike

[h0ughy (David)]

Wow was that really you LOL. As soon as I saw that setup I immediately thought of Scott Alder LOL. Very eerie really.

Fantastic achievements and memories Mike

[iceman (Mike)]

Fantastic memories, Mike.

The youngster doesn't much look like you.. it's all in the eyes

[richardo (Rich)]

That's excellent Mike..!
Really enjoyed our trip down the years to see what you were up to back then.
Top stuff!
Thanks for sharing the memories

All the best
Rich

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Thanks for sharing Mike.
I agree Mike, it is all in the eyes.

[bluescope]

Geez you were quite a handsome young man Mike ... what happened


Your Milky Way was very impressive for the times.

It's amazing how astrophotography has advanced in such a relatively short time.

The mind boggles at what may be happening in another 25 years .... three dimensional holographic imaging perhaps

[Garyh]

Wow, is that skinny boy really strong man Mike? LOL moving that setup around would of started you on your way! Similar to my second scope from AO. Enjoyed the Halleys pictures Mike! I wished I took my astrophotography a little more serious back then!
Thanks for sharing those memories
Gary

[Miaplacidus (Brian)]

Cor, they're brave on the internet, aren't they Mr Mike? Wouldn't be so rude face to face, I bet.

Did you foresee back then the equipment you would have now? All part of a grand plan, or a succession of blind alleys and wrong turns leading higgledy-piggledy to (temporary?) perfection? Any once-prized bits and pieces you wish you still had?

Thanks for sharing. Magnificent images, then and now.

Cheers,

Brian.

[spearo (Frank)]

Excellent!
Its great to see the early images compared to nowadays performance.
You can see the dedication and passion back then with the rigs.
very cool stuff
hope you've printed and framed some of these to hang them up proudly!
frank

[jase (Jason)]

Classic stuff Mike. Better than a repro IMO. The MilkyWay image is great. Thanks for sharing.

[gregbradley]

Cool post Mike.

Greg.