26 years of progress

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Thought this was an interesting comparison

Two images of M104 with cutting edge amateur imaging techniques and equipment taken 26 years apart by the same bloke

...it's been a fun and rewarding journey

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...57864/original

And quite increrdibly, these are photos of the very nights each image was captured, all of 26 years apart!

http://upload.pbase.com/strongmanmik...58775/original

Mike

[alan meehan (Alan)]

Amazing Mike makes you wonder what this shot would be 26yrs from today
AL

[MrB (Simon)]

Wow HP5.
I still have a bulk-roll of that in the fridge!

[RobF (Rob)]

Nice Mike.
Serves as a reminder for anyone we thinks AP will be an easy 12 month learning experience. Also shows what an exciting time to be in the hobby I guess.

[dcalleja]

Mike
A remarkable difference. I remember looking at Celestron ads in the 80s and dreaming of gas-hypered film rigs. The level of progress and kit you can buy now is just astounding. Great M104 too!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Even more incredible is that I have photos of the two nights - I have aged a bit

http://upload.pbase.com/strongmanmik...58775/original

Mike

[allan gould]

Cripes, Mike - the scope's lost weight and you've put it on.
Great photos for a whole lot of diffeent reasons.

[dcalleja]

If asked to play "spot the difference" I would have to say there's more cables and facial hair in the later shot.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Cool uh guys?

I would have to say that one thing hasn't changed

...back then Attila and I would pack the car with the C5 scope, Oddie mounting bracket, cold camera, vacuum pump, air tubes, cables, focusing eyepieces, esky of dry ice, trays etc etc and travel up to Mt Stromlo. ONCE THERE we had to park some 300m from the Oddie dome, so we were forced to carry ALL that stuff UP HILL to the dome, and in sub zero conditions attach it all, stuff around with pumps, dry ice, creating vacuums etc etc (sounds like using an SBIG today ) and then pull it all off and carry it back down the road to drive home in the morning!!!!!!

So you see as far as effort, dedication and general logistics go...little has changed

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by dcalleja

If asked to play "spot the difference" I would have to say there's more cables and facial hair in the later shot.

Actually, as I have just posted in a reply, there aint much difference as far as cables and attachment odds and bobs go. The cold camera was a fiddly messy device with air tubes a compressor and dry ice all having to reach up to 3m off the ground ...but we knew nothing else

Mike

[dcalleja]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Actually, as I have just posted in a reply, there aint much difference as far as cables and attachment odds and bobs go. The cold camera was a fiddly messy device with air tubes a compressor and dry ice all having to reach up to 3m off the ground ...but we knew nothing else

Mike

Well I got the facial hair bit right?

[spearo (Frank)]

hahahaha
cool comparisons! I reckon you could make a brilliant poster of the 4 images

Not sure I fiddle this hard with the SBIG personally......(not biting , just nudging the bait while looking at it with a suspicious look in my eye)
frank

[Lester]

Thanks for the comparison Mike, brings back memories.

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Cracking comparison Mike - it really is amazing how far we've come in a relatively short time.

My interests in Astronomy/Astrophotography were started in the early 90's by images from the likes of Jack Newton, Tony Hallas et al - all using gear which was so out of the realm of the amateur at that time it wasn't funny.

Back then unless you were part of a club/society it seemed that imaging was the inaccessible high end of the hobby and also a bloody PITA in terms of guiding and the nail-biting wait for the film to come back from the chemist!!! LOL

Autoguiding and cheap (but decent) Chinese optics have changed all that for many of us - viva la change!

Onya Mike!
Doug

[gregbradley]

That is a cool comparison Mike. Looks like you had massive fun there back in '84. Keeps you going stuff like that.

Greg.

[RobF (Rob)]

How the heck were you able to get access to Mt Stromlo anyway??

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by RobF

How the heck were you able to get access to Mt Stromlo anyway??

The Oddie refractor was the outreach type of scope. Stromlo allowed access to the Canberra Astronomical Society (CAS), local secondary (Yr11 & 12 only) colleges and some other community groups by appointment.

Canberra had the best secondary education system in the country back then and I went to Dickson College and I was also a member of the CAS. There is a training accreditation system now but back then all you needed was the key!

Attila and I lived and breathed everything astronomical for a few years and all nighters in sub zero temps up at the Oddie are now cherrished memories ...of course the fires in 2003 destroyed the Oddie but I beleive it is being restored..?

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

That is a cool comparison Mike. Looks like you had massive fun there back in '84. Keeps you going stuff like that.

Greg.

Oooh yes, Attila and I were like brothers for about 4 years and just lived for astronomy and particularly astrophotography

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

Cracking comparison Mike - it really is amazing how far we've come in a relatively short time.

Autoguiding and cheap (but decent) Chinese optics have changed all that for many of us - viva la change!

Onya Mike!
Doug

Cheers Doug, I thought it would be of interest to a few and a bit of nostalgia is always cool and good for a laugh

The idea pre the 90's was that ATM'ing was much more of a necessity, there just wasn't the plethora of easily accessable kit and kaboodle that exists today, you just had to make it all .

Hand guiding was excruciating at times but we knew nothing else so just lumped it. Scott Alder still hand guides but even he uses a TV screen to watch the star these days (ooooh how decadent).

Mike

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I can only imagine the time, the effort, the blood, sweat and tears involved in imaging with film. (I'm eternally grateful I started Astronomy in the digital age.)
I envy your memories Mike and thank you very much for sharing them with us.