Widefields from Kulnura, on the EQ platform

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi guys.

Finally got around to processing the widefield shots I took at Kulnura on the 9th July. These were taken with my Sony Cybershot 5.1mp digicam, sitting on top of a tripod, which was sitting on top of my EQ platform.

They are the result of 4-5 images each @30s each (ISO400), registered and combined in registar, and then processed in photoshop. I added some mouse-over labels as well, so be sure to go to the fullsize version and move your mouse on/off the image (they might take a second or 2 to load).

The image shown below is the preview version, click on each image to go the full size version (220k) where you'll see the mouse-overs.

Crux




Crux and Centaurus




Milkyway




Comments welcome!

[ving (David)]

brilliant mike. your the king mate! those widefields are great.

[h0ughy (David)]

great stuff there mike! excellent, that platform certainly gives you a great advantage

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Brilliant Mike. Its amazing what can be done with relatively inexpensive digital cameras now. Great shots. Love the overlays

[cahullian]

WTG Mike, great shots mate

[toetoe (Peter)]

As said in the other post, thanks for the names being put on the pictures.

[Orion]

Very nicely done Mike!

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Good stuff Mike Only thing missing is a pointer to the blue planetary ngc3918

[asimov (John)]

Wow! Gettin' quite professional aren't we? Very nice work Mike!

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Very nice indeed Mike.

[h0ughy (David)]

Mike did you buy registar or are you sing a trial version? I saw its $149US price tag. must be good stuff.

"A License Key only works on the particular computer for which it was generated. If, after purchasing RegiStar, you want to install RegiStar on another computer that you own, you must obtain a License Key for that computer. You can receive additional License Keys without further payment by pressing the Activate RegiStar button on the opening evaluation screen, and then following the instructions. Auriga Imaging reserves the right to limit the number of additional License Keys granted.

The single-user price for RegiStar 1.0 is $149.00 US."

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks for the comments.
I'm using the trial version of RegiStar, and it does a VERY good job at registering and aligning widefield images, much better than registax. So i'm considering buying it.

[dhumpie]

Incredible shots Mike!

Darren

[beren]

Love those shots Mike ,excellent with the overlays very cool.....registar hey , just wonder though for the price wether going for Images Plus would be the better buy?

[Mick (Michael)]

Amazing Mike, they are beautiful images.

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks guys for the comments.

Stuart, what is ImagesPlus like? What else does it do that registar doesn't?

Regarding the pics, it seems UT (universetoday.com) wants to feature one on their newsletter.. Cool!

[beren]

Mike as far as i understand it IP gives complete control of a DSLR {at this stage just the Canon DSLRs and D70 with the right serial cables} from a PC and everything registar does plus editing features.....it sells for 180 US from OPT not including the cables you need . I havent got a copy but i do have a "cookbook" from OPT that gives a newcomer a tutorial on how to use the program , with the program you do get video tutorials.I guess you get good results either way but if you have a Canon/nikon DSLR IP is made for it .

[tornado33]

Lovely pics, stars sharp to the edge too the camera has a good lens in it.
Scott

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Mike, have you seen the article and picture on page 22-23 of August edition of Australian S&T?It has a great shot of the Milky Way with a fisheye lens that blows the mind. I have spent so much time identifying the constellations in that photo...the detail of background stars almost obscures what would otherwise be very familiar.

The other night when I looked up at our Central Coast sky I could picture in my mind's eye the glory of the Milky Way beyond the visible stars. I'm hooked on widefield shots now....I think it is my favourite genre of astrophotography

[iceman (Mike)]

I agree Rod, and I loved that fisheye shot in AS&T. Widefield shots always blow me away, really puts in perspective that we're in the middle (well, towards the edge ) of a galaxy, and looking towards its centre you can just see millions of stars.