ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waxing Gibbous 79.6%
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19-10-2012, 09:13 PM
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Old Man Yells at Cloud
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Rockingham WA
Posts: 3,435
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Wow, very nice Mike!
My 10" f3.8 can't happen fast enough(I've gone the ATM route), but I can only dream of a dark sky location like yours 
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20-10-2012, 09:49 AM
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Highest Observatory in Oz
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 17,691
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Quote:
Originally Posted by allan gould
Mike
Enjoy the observatory. I know that when I enter mine I have a great sense of satisfaction and control. It's all in my hands and I love the sense that I know where all things are and I can attempt something new. It's a pity it's in a light polluted site for me but it cuts out wind, some light from the neighbors and I just love it. You will never go back to being without it.
Really pleased for you Mike.
Allan
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Thanks Allan for your kind words 
Oh I can't wait, the fact that a complete Sirius Observatory became available in Canberra's nearest suburb to us is a bloody miracle  I have had an observatory before but not since mid 2006  ...it's been a hard slog at times since then
Quote:
Originally Posted by naskies
WOW for your image and location! |
Cheers Dave, I am very lucky 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrB
Wow, very nice Mike!
My 10" f3.8 can't happen fast enough(I've gone the ATM route), but I can only dream of a dark sky location like yours |
Cheers.
You will love it Simon, it does need dark skies to fully appreciate but a fast 10" Newt is a formidable instrument.
Mike
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20-10-2012, 07:22 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 8,286
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Nice one Big Mike did look when first posted but didn't comment as a masters work needs no accolades
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20-10-2012, 07:50 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,810
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top image, great setup{trusty NJP}, perfect location congrats Mike your enthusiasm for the art is infectious 
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20-10-2012, 11:08 PM
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Highest Observatory in Oz
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 17,691
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TrevorW
Nice one Big Mike did look when first posted but didn't comment as a masters work needs no accolades
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beren
top image, great setup{trusty NJP}, perfect location congrats Mike your enthusiasm for the art is infectious |
Cheers Trevor and Beren, not sure about perfect location but it's better than what I've had for the past 5 years at least
Should be out again tomorrow night for a new 1 night deep image 
Mike
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21-10-2012, 02:06 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bowen Mountain
Posts: 837
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Hello Mike, that's a beautifully deep image and you have captured the faint halo as well as many distant background galaxies brilliantly. I also note that you have nice sharp star images to the corners of the frame; collimation for Newtonians can be frustrating at times (and especially so for faster Newtonians) but you appear to have everything humming nicely! I understand that you are buying a Sirius observatory? That will also be a huge boon - I take my hat off to everyone that have portable setups as it must take a lot more effort to gather imaging data when you have to continually pack / travel / setup each night!
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21-10-2012, 02:39 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3,786
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Mike,
Quote:
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Should be out again tomorrow night for a new 1 night deep image
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What about NGC 300 in the same area of the sky? -
that will be a test.
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21-10-2012, 06:50 PM
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Highest Observatory in Oz
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 17,691
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David Fitz-Henr
Hello Mike, that's a beautifully deep image and you have captured the faint halo as well as many distant background galaxies brilliantly. I also note that you have nice sharp star images to the corners of the frame; collimation for Newtonians can be frustrating at times (and especially so for faster Newtonians) but you appear to have everything humming nicely! I understand that you are buying a Sirius observatory? That will also be a huge boon - I take my hat off to everyone that have portable setups as it must take a lot more effort to gather imaging data when you have to continually pack / travel / setup each night!
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Cheers Dave
Yes the AG12 at F3.8 across the big 16803 chip is doing ok, it's not absolutely perfect as I do notice a wee bit of star shape variability across the sky and I don't think I have nailed the corrector spacing 100% either... but in the end the final images speak for themselves I guess. Thing is, at F3.8 and with the big chip heaviest camera/filterwheel/focuser assembly possible hanging at 90 deg to the tube it does quite well really and is surprisingly easy to collimate too.
Yes I have the Sirius Obs already and I have just asked the landlord for permission to erect the Sirius observatory on a slab (or possibly raised deck) so we will see...?
Mike
Quote:
Originally Posted by alpal
Mike,
What about NGC 300 in the same area of the sky? -
that will be a test.
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Yes I have considered a few things..and yes NGC 300 was in the mix but I'm not sure there is much in it to reveal that is new  ...There are some other galaxy fields in the area that might show something a bit more interesting 
Mike
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23-10-2012, 07:17 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Posts: 4,116
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Great to see imagery from the new property, nice and deep one at that and it beats having to travel to a dark site.
The bright H2 regions really stand out well too
Scott
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23-10-2012, 11:07 PM
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Mostly harmless...
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 5,735
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Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
Just put together a selection of 100% crops of some distant galaxies and galaxy clusters located in the depths around NGC 253. I can't imagine how far away that very faint cluster in the bottom middle crop must be...? anyone got Simbad or other software that could identify it..? I have attached a location for it in my image...of course while it looks extra-galactic in nature to me, it could just be a very faint asterism of Milky Way stars too...be nice to confirm
Mike |
Wowser - looks like a Sidonio Deep Field!
Awesome 253 Mike, and great to see the new site is living up to and exceeding promise.
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24-10-2012, 03:05 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: U.S.A
Posts: 755
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Pretty nice Mike. I like the faint galaxies the best. BTW, I sold my ASA N12. Finally got it working too.
jg
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24-10-2012, 06:12 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand
Posts: 2,260
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Nice collection of distant galaxies Mike I thought about doing something similar with my Cartwheel galaxy image, but I didn't know where to start, lol. Sculptor is just littered with these everywhere, pretty amazing.
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24-10-2012, 07:19 AM
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Sandro
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 105
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Hello Mike!!
Ah YES !!
beautiful image !!!
@lex
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24-10-2012, 11:46 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Box Hill North, Vic
Posts: 1,838
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Hi Mike,
I'm always in awe of your images as anyone would be, but this one somehow doesn't do it for me. I'm just a beginner so maybe I'm missing something that others have seen, maybe its the blue, but it looks kind of artificial to me.
the small sized full frame illustrates that. just my honest opinion. Look forward to more though.
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25-10-2012, 01:45 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Wynnum West, Brisbane.
Posts: 4,166
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Looks like you finally got out of Dodge ...
On ya mike ....
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25-10-2012, 08:43 AM
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Highest Observatory in Oz
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 17,691
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tornado33
Great to see imagery from the new property, nice and deep one at that and it beats having to travel to a dark site.
The bright H2 regions really stand out well too
Scott
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Howdy Scott, haven't heard from you in a while, how's it hanging mate?
Yes out of Murkville Newastle and under crisp clean rural Canberran skies now, it's unreal. Funny, I'm already starting to complain about having to setup in my own backyard  ...the Sirius dome will be a welcome addition for sure
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobF
Wowser - looks like a Sidonio Deep Field!
Awesome 253 Mike, and great to see the new site is living up to and exceeding promise. |
Cheers Rob, yes although the location is a sensible compromise between distance and proximity to Canberra ie within 30min commute of the city (outside peak hour), as expected the skies are still amazingly good none the less
Quote:
Originally Posted by dvj
Pretty nice Mike. I like the faint galaxies the best. BTW, I sold my ASA N12. Finally got it working too.
jg
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Which one do you like the best? 
Shame about the ASA N12, certainly glad I had another go with Orion Optics, that's for sure, I dreamed of taking these sorts of deep images way back in 2006...it only took me 6 years
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkyViking
Nice collection of distant galaxies Mike I thought about doing something similar with my Cartwheel galaxy image, but I didn't know where to start, lol. Sculptor is just littered with these everywhere, pretty amazing. |
Yes indeed, as my NGC 1316 image illustrates too, puny APO's and 50hr exposures ...bah! viva la fast Newtonian and aperture
Quote:
Originally Posted by alexandre
Hello Mike!!
Ah YES !!
beautiful image !!!
@lex |
Thanks Alex
Quote:
Originally Posted by alistairsam
Hi Mike,
I'm always in awe of your images as anyone would be, but this one somehow doesn't do it for me. I'm just a beginner so maybe I'm missing something that others have seen, maybe its the blue, but it looks kind of artificial to me.
the small sized full frame illustrates that. just my honest opinion. Look forward to more though.
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Hey fair enough Alistair, I appreciate your honesty, not sure I can do anything about that aspect now though ....just appreciate the unique aspects rather than the pure aesthetics I guess? NGC 253 is rarely image in this way, very few images of the galaxy show the extensive background galaxy swarms and even less reveal the outer halo
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tandum
Looks like you finally got out of Dodge ...
On ya mike ....
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Yep, from the big smoke to the big open Universe....
MIke
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25-10-2012, 10:53 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Inkom, ID USA
Posts: 589
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So, is this a remote observatory? Congrats! I'm looking forward to some great images!
-Tom
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26-10-2012, 11:23 AM
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Highest Observatory in Oz
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 17,691
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Davis
So, is this a remote observatory? Congrats! I'm looking forward to some great images!
-Tom
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No, not remote, it's in my own backyard
Mike
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31-10-2012, 12:16 PM
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Highest Observatory in Oz
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 17,691
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Just reprocessed...only slightly, reduced the noise and a few other minor cosmetic improvements, changed crop etc....
All the same links
Reeeeally looking forward to next New Moon
Mike
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31-10-2012, 12:20 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 599
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Whoa there big boy!
That is freaking awesome!!!
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