Its time for a pat on the back for IIS imagers.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

I thought it was about time I made mention of all the amazing images that are posted here on IIS.

I am both amazed and delighted on the quality of images that are seen here and are available to all on IIS.

We have such a diverse range of images and topics to look at on a daily basis, and I for one never seem to tire of looking and enjoying them very much.
So here's a pat on the back for all you imagers out there that work hard to not only capture these delights, but also take the time to painstakingly process these images into works of art.

Being interested in astronomy since I was young has seen me collect a variety of books over the years.
Some of the published land based Astronomers photos in these books, even from the 90's just dont have the same detail and clarity as I see in a lot of the images posted here on IIS.

The equipment available to us all in this day and age is astounding to say the least, and Just one day in the future I might invest in some and just have some fun trying to achieve what many many others have done already here on the Ice in Space web-site.

Well done, and keep them coming........

Geoffro.

[Jen]

Yeah, what Geoff said
Amazing pics posted in here they all make me sooo jealous
I hope i can contribute in posting some amazing pics in here one day
Keep it up guys/gals i admire your work

[Chillie (Henry)]

Sadly, you won't see too many from me.

I planned to take an afocal image of Jupiter last night using my Pentax Optio 33 LX but it is useless.

[citivolus (Ric)]

Originally Posted by Chillie

Sadly, you won't see too many from me.

I planned to take an afocal image of Jupiter last night using my Pentax Optio 33 LX but it is useless.

Keep trying, the early attempts of most imagers are ones they would be embarassed to show in public 5 years down the road See if there is anyone who lives near you who is familiar with afocal imaging that could give you a hand.

Regards,
Eric

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

What Ric says is spot on Henry. Keep trying mate, if you are happy with the results thats all that matters. The man in the mirror is who you have to keep happy

Bill

[Chillie (Henry)]

Thanks for the encouragement but it is the camera. I don't think the CCD is sensitive enough. I couldn't see anything in the view finder when I put the camera up to the EP, so I point the camera directly at Jupiter (and other stars) and still nothing show up in the viewfinder.

Here is a link to the camera that I have:
http://www.livingroom.org.au/photolo...optio_33lf.php

[renormalised (Carl)]

Were you holding it by hand, Henry??. That's probably the biggest problem you'll have. Unless you have rock steady (and I mean rock steady) hands, your images will look like a dog's breakfast. To make things a lot easier, and to allow you to get the image into focus all the time, grab yourself one of these....Orion SteadyPix SLR Camera Mount

Just click on the link above and goto page 4. That little device will make things so much easier for you. Then all you have to do is keep the scope pointing at your object

Also, you'll have to set your camera up to take the piccies. For planets, especially bright ones like Jupiter, it's best to take lots of short exposures (1/20th to 1/50th sec) and then stack the piccies with a program like Registax or DSS (Deep Sky Stacker). The Moon only needs very short exposure times....1/200 to 1/1000th sec because it's so bright. You could also drop the ISO down a bit too...ISO200 would be fine, but for other objects ISO400-800 is more recommended.

Your camera is more than sensitive enough....you just need the right equipment and a bit of help. You'll soon be churning out the piccies

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

i find the pictures posted here to be a great inspiration, and they push me on to get better.


which is just as well, as i suck

[AlexN]

Originally Posted by toryglen-boy

i find the pictures posted here to be a great inspiration, and they push me on to get better.


which is just as well, as i suck

I definitely agree.. The ever increasing quality of images posted on these forums are part of what drives me to continiously sit outside in the cold of the night for hours on end trying my hardest to better my previous results...

As for the "which is just as well, as i suck" comment... I don't think anyone who images something that is 1500 lightyears away or more can say they suck... I think even taking short, unguided images of the stars is a major undertaking and you should be happy with your efforts no matter what the result. As it was said to me during my initial weeks in astro imaging, Astrophotography is by far the most demanding form of photography around... No matter what you do, You can not beat hubble, and the people posting the utterly amazing images have been imaging the skies for years and years.

My thoughts are always "My images are not as good as <insert imagers name here> YET!! I have every confidence that one day, several years from now, I'll look back at the images I've taken during my first year in deep sky imaging and laugh... At the moment I think some of them are very good, and they definitely make me happy, That said, with 5 more years experience in polar alignment, guiding, tuning the mount, achieving best focus and mostly, image processing, they could be absolute master pieces..

That, is the other thing that drives me to do better. The knowing that things can only get better.. from that first time, unguided imaging with 20 second subs, through to now taking guided 10 minute exposures in just 1 year. I am confident that I (and many other imagers) are headed in the right direction...

Anyone who does what we do should be proud.. You're tackling one of the most difficult tasks in the artform of photography, and whats more, you're tackling it in the dark!

I'll add my congratulations to all the imagers on the forums for their dedication, hard work, continious help to those of us just starting out and all round inspiration and motivation that drives all of us to do better!

[renormalised (Carl)]

I don't think anyone who images something that is 1500 lightyears away or more can say they suck

Yes they do....they suck photons

[TrevorW]

Thanks Geoff

[Chillie (Henry)]

I did NOT take any pictures because I could NOT see anything in the LCD view finder.

I took my camera (but not the telescope) out the following night to do some tests. I could barely see the street light in the LCD view finder but it looked like a faint star. I will not be using my Pentax camera for astrophotography. I do have a $165 Acuter Attacco standard 31.8mm 300,000 pixel camera that I bought at the same time I bought the telescope. I haven't used it yet and will try it out during the daylight hours (sometime). If that will give me a picture during the day, I'll try it at night.

I have no interest in taking multipul pictures and stacking them.

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Chillie

I did NOT take any pictures because I could NOT see anything in the LCD view finder.

I took my camera (but not the telescope) out the following night to do some tests. I could barely see the street light in the LCD view finder but it looked like a faint star. I will not be using my Pentax camera for astrophotography. I do have a $165 Acuter Attacco standard 31.8mm 300,000 pixel camera that I bought at the same time I bought the telescope. I haven't used it yet and will try it out during the daylight hours (sometime). If that will give me a picture during the day, I'll try it at night.

I have no interest in taking multipul pictures and stacking them.

Henry it's probably best to start a new thread in the Cameras, Photography and Imaging forum where you can ask for advice specifically on these issues, so that we can keep this thread on topic.

[Chillie (Henry)]

Originally Posted by RB

Henry it's probably best to start a new thread in the Cameras, Photography and Imaging forum where you can ask for advice specifically on these issues, so that we can keep this thread on topic.

Yep! No problem mate.