First Post & Image from Me:)

[Aussie Pete]

Gday IIS type folks!

I've been a lurker on IIS for a while now, but I thought it was about time I added something. hehe
My weekend weather since this image was taken has been terrible in Melbourne, and im slowly going nuts! I tend to be a cloudbaiter..

NGC 1365 5th Feb 2006. Melbourne
RCOS 317mm, ST-7XME, CFW-8. Paramount ME
32min Lum with 24min RGB (8min subs)
CCDStack. CCDsoft. PS CS2.

Good to have an image to show you, and i hope to be back when the Great Sky Fairy cooperates.

Pete
Essendon

[Robby]

Lovely image Pete!! Good to see you come out from the shadows...
Cheers

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Welcome aboard Pete. Glad you decided to join us.

Man that's some serious equipment you have there. I don't know for sure but I think you might be the first RCOS on the site.

That image is a great prize for the clear skies you got that night. Very nice shot.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Wecome Pete! Impressive image from light polluted Essendon!

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

a big welcome to you Pete (and to your RCOS)

[Striker (Tony)]

Welcome Pete.

Please dont admit to following Essendon and you will be fine...hehehe

[ving (David)]

hello pete
welcome

[cjmarsh81]

Pete. Nice picture. Well done.

[norm]

Man that's some serious equipment you have there. I don't know for sure but I think you might be the first RCOS on the site.

Brad Moore has just posted photos of his RCOS setup - awesome stuff. (I can only imagine the price $$$$$$ )

[beren]

Very nice , well done

[ACE]

Excellent

[acropolite (Phil)]

You're some kinda serious lurker Pete, nice image

[RB (Andrew)]

Welcome Pete.
Beautiful image, glad to have you on board.

[iceman (Mike)]

Pete.. I hope you enjoy it here and find time to contribute more great images.

Is that taken with Brad's scope? Lovely looking setup.

[Aussie Pete]

Thanks IIS for the kind comments (i am a Bombers fan yes), and well spotted Iceman.

Yep, i have a full RCOS/PME rating and when weather/time permits I go down to Brads or connect remotely to his observatory via remote desktop (Brad just has to roll the roof off for me, then he can go to bed. hehe)

Brad has been busy supertuning my scope/mount of late, so its very nice to be able to do this while my scope is with Doc Brad.

But it does need a bit of insitu training and getting used to. It is after all a VERY expensive/delicate instrument. We have a selection of NB filters and SBIG CCD's to use and we usually try to image all night on the one target.
Brad later makes available the raw FITS files which i download (slowly), and I do all the post processing at home. I never have to leave my desk anymore. Too easy. Aaahh technology.

Its like giving Siding Springs a call and using one of their scopes.

Regards.. Pete

[h0ughy (David)]

I like the image, nice detail. Welcome aboard