Here's an image I did not long after I first got my Canon EOS. It's a composite image which shows the Milky Way as seen at the time from my backyard observatory.
Telescope: Piggybacked Camera on Telescope.
Camera: Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel (not modified).
Exposures:
Image of the Milky Way
2 x 5 minutes f/5.6 focal length 46mm ISO200
Image of Telescope
30 seconds f/5 focal length 18mm ISO1600
Total Exposure time 10 minutes for Milky Way.
Filter/equipment. Used Canon 18-55mm lens.
thats a good shot Paul. Tell me how did you get the poster of the Milky Way to stay still until you took the photo !
very nicely done mate
Regarding the poster: my first idea was to have an assistant hold it, but then I found replacing the assistant with a ladder will hold the poster much more firmly in place.
Yes I remember when you showed it to me, dramatically shows the life of an astro imager
Scott
See i am vindicated, I knew you were there holding that poster Scott . Paul I would love an observatory like that, with stars similar to yours, but scott collects all the photons in Wallsend before I can have a chance to see
Nice shot. I guess by the amount of detail in the photo that your set up is in the country.
Hi Lester,
The country ? well not really, I live on the western edge of Newcastle.
I guess it depends of relativity - by comparison to Sydney or Melbourne, you could call it the country - but if you compare my skies to say Lostock (where the 2006 AstroCamp was held) - then my skies really make me wonder how I get any decent images at all.
The partially closed observatory roof and observatory walls really block a tremendous amount of light pollution - I have a major street lamp out the front of the house and several in the streets that surround me - neighbour lights often shine onto or into the observatory as well.
Thanks all for your comments. Glad you like the image.
I think the Observatory and Telescope add perspective and size to the night sky during winter. After taking the images of the Milky Way I immediately removed the camera and physically held it on the bottom end of the telescope. Then I zoomed the camera lens to match the same bright stars I could see from inside the observatory - I was trying to get 1:1 zoom (or zero zoom) and did a a 30-second exposure @ ISO1600 to get the outline of the telescope.
So the best I could, the Milky Way is in the same size and orientation as seen from the observatory at that time.
Now you all know, where I spend most clear nights.
Yes thats why I took up astrophotography, the images we can get under such light polluted skies are brighter than can be seen with a mighty 20 inch visually from a dark site, and in full colour too!
Scott
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. Paul I would love an observatory like that, with stars similar to yours, but scott collects all the photons in Wallsend before I can have a chance to see
