Pleiades and Q2 Machholz

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #1 07-01-2005, 11:04 AM

Hi guys, this is a great forum!

It's been cloudy here but I managed to sneak a shot or 3 of Comet Q2 Machholz las night near the Pleiades.

While saving for a better camera I've been fooling with a Mintron video camera and recently have been trying tricolour.

I don't have the "proper" filters either so am making do with photo filters Orange for the red channel, Yellow for the green channel and Blue as blue.

This is a pic from last night the 6th. Frames stacked in Registax and levels - tricolour registration in Photoshop.

Mintron video camera and 50mm standard camera lens.

rumples riot · #2 07-01-2005, 12:51 PM

Nice capture, keep em coming

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #3 07-01-2005, 12:56 PM

Thanks, I'll try - clouds permitting!

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #4 07-01-2005, 01:02 PM

Hi Kevin, good to see you here... welcome to the forum

iceman (Mike) · #5 07-01-2005, 01:10 PM

Hey Kevin, welcome to the forums! Great to see you here.. I've seen some of your work on the AO forums and they are truly great with the equipment you've got! And this pic is no exception..

Great shot!

Mick (Michael) · #6 07-01-2005, 05:12 PM

Very nice CC. Don't know about tonight though.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #7 07-01-2005, 11:54 PM

Aha, Now I see where the handle came from. Well lived up to. Nice job.

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #8 08-01-2005, 06:19 AM

Thanks guys.

Last night was a washout, but I was too sick to get out of bed for long anyway. Kind of good timing really.

Yes, I like comets. Interesting things that never looking the same twice.

The Cometcatcher is also a fast little 5 1/2 inch Schmidt Newtonian brought out by Celestron for Halley's comet, which I have lying around somewhere.

iceman (Mike) · #9 08-01-2005, 06:46 AM

I had a look at Maccholz next to M45 through my 11x70's last night.. georgeous sight.. I took some widefield tripod shots with my Cybershot, i'll process them today but I don't think the skies were dark enough to pull out enough detail..

gbeal · #10 09-01-2005, 08:48 AM

Hi Kevin
welcome, it is a nice place to hang out isn't it?

Got a break between clouds, and through high cloud for a short while last night, and imaged the comet with it's backdrop of M45.

Lovely view, and a fine naked eye sight as well.

Nikon D100, with Nikkor 300mm @4.5 stack of 3 separate 2 minute exposures all at ISO1250. Stacked and levels applied in Photoshop by Aaron.

Unfortunately the position is towards a bit of light pollution, and this coupled with the high cloud has given the image a certain "glow". Still I consider myself lucky to have goten this.
Regards,
Gary BEAL,
Hamilton.

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #11 09-01-2005, 09:01 AM

well done gary, nice pic

is there no wizardry that can eliminate-subtract out -the sky glow?

iceman (Mike) · #12 09-01-2005, 09:18 AM

That's a great shot Gary! And most certainly I think that skyglow can be eliminated using photoshop magic.. I'm not expert enough to do it myself but I've seen it done..

That is a beautiful shot and with a dark background it will turn out even better. Nice job.

Mick (Michael) · #13 09-01-2005, 09:28 AM

Beautiful image Gary thanks for the post, cloud is all we have to look at in central Qld at the moment, Tropical cyclone Kerry is of the coast and slowly heading west. I'm glad I had a look at Machholz on Friday night in 7x50 bions it was a wonderful sight.

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #14 09-01-2005, 10:47 AM

Excellect shot Gary. It makes a fine sight next to the Pleiades.

gbeal · #15 09-01-2005, 10:48 AM

Welcome guys, and thanks.
I thought NZ was the only place with cloud. It was clear enough to get what I did, so I was happy. Seeing was poor, but for widefield stuff like this it doesn't really matter.
Believe me Ice, the PhotoShop magic has already been tried, and some.
I am open to suggestions though.
Gary

[1ponders] (Paul) · #16 09-01-2005, 11:52 AM

Nice Shot Gary. Do you use anything to assist you with your focus

gbeal · #17 09-01-2005, 04:01 PM

No Paul, just eyeball it, and with the 300mm it isn't as critical anyway.
Good luck helps

[1ponders] (Paul) · #18 09-01-2005, 04:18 PM

ving (David) · #19 10-01-2005, 09:22 AM

hi CC, bout time you made it here!

great shot btw!

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #20 10-01-2005, 04:16 PM

Hi Ving. Yeah I can't believe how active this forum is. I did a google search for "Australian astronomy forum" but didn't come up with much. Found my way here through astronomy online.

Hey what is that blue stuff I see between the clouds? If I'm lucky I might get 10 seconds worth a look tonight!