Good for a Laugh!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #1 06-03-2005, 12:09 AM

<b>Need a good laugh?</b>

Have a look at my first ever astro photo!

I borrowed my daughters digital camera and couldn't resist trying it out on Saturn.

Yes! that is actually Saturn. I had a good laugh over it so I don't mind if you do too.

It was taken in a 5 minute break in the clouds using a 30mm GS SuperView EP and a hand held cheapie kodak digital camera.

Starkler (Geoff) · #2 06-03-2005, 01:08 AM

Uh-oh , another rabid astrophotographer in the making here

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #3 06-03-2005, 02:07 AM

I doubt it after that effort.

Got to laugh!

gbeal · #4 06-03-2005, 07:24 AM

No laugh, a great start. I am sure you will be hooked from here.

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #5 06-03-2005, 08:21 AM

Well done, have to start somewhere.

iceman (Mike) · #6 06-03-2005, 08:54 AM

Try using the 15 or 9mm eyepiece next time. Great shot, my first shot was almost exactly the same.

rumples riot · #7 06-03-2005, 10:44 AM

Hmmm, what can I say. Probably better than my first shot at it. More practice is the go. Keep at it.

ving (David) · #8 06-03-2005, 11:24 AM

yeah a bit more magnification and the rings would stand out

wd

Striker (Tony) · #9 06-03-2005, 11:33 AM

My first shot of Saturn turned out like a white blob......doing the exact same thing 30mm superview with a canon 2MP digital camera.......even though unimpressive its better then mine.

acropolite (Phil) · #10 06-03-2005, 12:04 PM

Whip up a bracket to hold the

cam Ken. I made one in less than 1 hour to fit over my eyepiece. (see pic) Once you work out the offset to get the lens central the rest's easy. Probably won't work for you but might give you some ideas.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #11 06-03-2005, 03:19 PM

Thanks all.

The only reason I used the 30mm SV was because it was a lousy night, cloud, rain, wind. There was a break in the rain with a big hole in the clouds so I raced out with the scope, set it up, and just grabbed the 30mm SV and went 'click' with the camera a couple of times, then the rain came back.

I have never packed up so fast! It must have been a funny sight to watch.

I only had the camera for two days. It has now gone back to my daughter.

When I get one it will have to be a bit better than the one she has.

Phil, Thanks for the idea. When I get a camera I will style a mount like yours.

Thanks for the encouragement eveyone. I still laugh at it though!

mick pinner · #12 06-03-2005, 04:04 PM

Yes, someone else to help ask those stupid questions

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #13 06-03-2005, 04:16 PM

Yep Mick,

and I'm gonna have plenty of them! lol

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #14 07-03-2005, 01:24 AM

Couldn't resist.

Beautiful night so I went and borrowed my daughters camera again.

Just my luck, right after setting up, in came the fog!

I managed to get this photo though. My first Jupiter shot!!

Don't know what happened to the moons though. (I'm getting hooked on this astro photo stuff)

RAJAH235 · #15 07-03-2005, 02:21 AM

What bit you, Ken? A mozzie or a bug?

L.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #16 07-03-2005, 02:37 AM

ving (David) · #17 07-03-2005, 07:10 AM

look at that banding will ya!

yup kens got the bug alright

you need to overexpose the image to see the moons.
fialing that you could use PSP and just pu the moons in yourself

iceman (Mike) · #18 07-03-2005, 07:44 AM

Nice one Ken, a higher power eyepiece and you're well on your way.

Comet Hunter · #19 07-03-2005, 07:57 AM

Well Done 98!!!

acropolite (Phil) · #20 07-03-2005, 08:17 AM

Ken, Nice result, especially since it's hand held..... I think I read somewhere that if you take 2 pics,

the first exposing Jupiter correctly, then another exposing the moons correctly (and overexposing jupiter) then mask the overexposed jupiter and combine the 2 in photoshop.