K-5 For Astrophotography

**fs999** · 12-12-2014, 08:55 AM

My first shots with O-GPS1. I don't know what it is, but was beautiful.

Pointing east.

1600 ISO • Pentax DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED • 61.81 sec

More wide.

1600 ISO • Pentax DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited • 179.83 seconds

Where can I find a good star map on internet ?

**TedH42** · 12-12-2014, 09:30 AM

The Pleiades, M45.

ErZi · 12-12-2014, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by interested_observer

You are located near Helsinki Finland, if I am not mistaken, which is at 59 degrees North. So the GPS satellites fly up from the south, and essentially turn overhead and head back south again.

Over 60 degrees North

But you are right. I don't have GPS satellites over my head or in the north. Glonass would be better for me or if I could rig my camera to use DGPS. I accused my tripod because it is not sturdy enough for my camera and 1 kg objective. At least wind caused some vibrations in long exposure shots. Or it might have been that sea ice I was standing on and moving around my camera while it was taking a picture.

Nice info and thanks for detailed answer!

Originally posted by Gimbal

The heading and the angle up/ down however has a large impact on the result. And the electronic compass is tricky, sometimes it’s accurate, and sometimes it’s not. The heading from the compass is also affected by the angle of the camera.

Stacking is the key to success.

I'm leaning on this. That electronic compass can sometimes be pain in the arse. I try to keep everything electrical or metallic (phones etc.) things as far as possible from the camera. I'm also thinking that my K5 electronic level indicator is little bit off (or my sensor is degree or two tilted). So if that error affects on headings with O-gps then I need to upgrade my system sometime. Now I will go with these and try stacking.

Originally posted by fs999

Where can I find a good star map on internet ?

I'm using google sky map with my phone on site.

**fs999** · 12-12-2014, 12:00 PM

Originally posted by TedH42

The Pleiades, M45.

Thank you very much !

Originally posted by ErZi

I'm using google sky map with my phone on site.

Thank you ! I will have a look

Gimbal · 12-12-2014, 01:32 PM

One thing I might try, sometime, is to first take the bearing to the target with an ordinary compass. Then aim the camera and mount a small and very weak magnet on top of the GPS, (or perhaps a strong magnet on a tripod nearby) and then rotate the magnet until the desired bearing shows on the display. I wonder what that will do with the accuracy.

seti_v2 · 12-15-2014, 06:48 AM

Hi FS999,

saw your post asking about star maps.

the best star map is astrometry.net

You load up your image and it plate solves for you.

Astrometry.net <- upload link

hope you don't mind I took the liberty of doing your two images

Astrometry.net <- your widefield

Astrometry.net <- you closeup

---------- Post added 12-15-14 at 08:08 AM ----------

Unless you are talking about in the field. Than I use SkEye app on my phone or Stellarium planetarium software (its free)

**fs999** · 12-15-2014, 09:33 AM

Thank you seti_v2 ! Nice app !

y0chang · 12-15-2014, 03:10 PM - **1 Like**

Pentax K5 DA 12-24, f4, ISO 6400, 30 sec exposure. The foreground is illuminated by a passing car. This is lake mattamuskeet, one of the darkest spots on the east coast of America. You can see the double cluster, the Andromeda Galaxy, and one of the many bright Geminid meteors that I saw on Saturday Night.

Gimbal · 01-06-2015, 07:08 AM - **1 Like**

An attempt at C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy with a K5, a 70mm limited and the O-GPS1. Unfortunately there was also a full moon at same time so details are washed out. The picture is a 100% crop of a stack of 29 exposures at 15sec each.

seti_v2 · 01-07-2015, 08:56 AM

C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) Comet. First attempt at a comet. 28 x 120" guided exposures at ISO400 Pentax k5

Learjet · 01-08-2015, 08:54 AM - **2 Likes**

Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) January 8. Near to close approach tonight. 14 x 30 seconds, 8" F4 Newtonian, Baader MPCC MKIII coma corrector, HEQ5 pro unguided, Pentax K-5.

Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) January 8 2015 (Kevin) | AstroBin

JimmyDranox · 01-08-2015, 10:05 AM

Very good. Like it.

**Eric Seavey** · 01-17-2015, 12:09 AM

Originally posted by JimmyDranox

Very good. Like it.

Comet Lovejoy. Taken near Los Angeles. I subtracted the light pollution from the photo to get this shot. Used a Celestron 5i telescope and tracked the comet. The comet was not visible to the naked eye here, so I use the O-GPS-1 and my 40mm prime to spot the comet in relation to other stars and scanned the region with the telescope until I found it.

maxxxx · 01-17-2015, 12:20 PM

Originally posted by Eric Seavey

Comet Lovejoy. Taken near Los Angeles. I subtracted the light pollution from the photo to get this shot. Used a Celestron 5i telescope and tracked the comet. The comet was not visible to the naked eye here, so I use the O-GPS-1 and my 40mm prime to spot the comet in relation to other stars and scanned the region with the telescope until I found it.

I also live near LA. Can you explain how you subtract the light pollution? What software do you use? I have Photoshop elements and Lightroom.

**Eric Seavey** · 01-17-2015, 01:51 PM - **1 Like**

You take a photo of the subject, and then you move the camera a little such that there are vey few stars in the frame. Then you unfocus the camera and take a photo. In photoshop you take the blurry image and add it as a layer and select difference to reduce the light pollution.

01-06-2015, 07:08 AM - 1 Like	#744
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	An attempt at C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy with a K5, a 70mm limited and the O-GPS1. Unfortunately there was also a full moon at same time so details are washed out. The picture is a 100% crop of a stack of 29 exposures at 15sec each. Attached Images

01-07-2015, 08:56 AM	#745
seti_v2 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 59	C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) Comet. First attempt at a comet. 28 x 120" guided exposures at ISO400 Pentax k5 Last edited by seti_v2; 01-08-2015 at 08:46 AM.

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12-12-2014, 08:55 AM	#736
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,639	My first shots with O-GPS1. I don't know what it is, but was beautiful. Pointing east. 1600 ISO • Pentax DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED • 61.81 sec More wide. 1600 ISO • Pentax DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited • 179.83 seconds Where can I find a good star map on internet ?

12-12-2014, 09:30 AM	#737
TedH42 F/8 & Somewhere Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,412	The Pleiades, M45.

12-12-2014, 11:30 AM	#738
ErZi Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Espoo, Finland Photos: Gallery Posts: 70	Originally posted by interested_observer You are located near Helsinki Finland, if I am not mistaken, which is at 59 degrees North. So the GPS satellites fly up from the south, and essentially turn overhead and head back south again. Over 60 degrees North But you are right. I don't have GPS satellites over my head or in the north. Glonass would be better for me or if I could rig my camera to use DGPS. I accused my tripod because it is not sturdy enough for my camera and 1 kg objective. At least wind caused some vibrations in long exposure shots. Or it might have been that sea ice I was standing on and moving around my camera while it was taking a picture. Nice info and thanks for detailed answer! Originally posted by Gimbal The heading and the angle up/ down however has a large impact on the result. And the electronic compass is tricky, sometimes it’s accurate, and sometimes it’s not. The heading from the compass is also affected by the angle of the camera. Stacking is the key to success. I'm leaning on this. That electronic compass can sometimes be pain in the arse. I try to keep everything electrical or metallic (phones etc.) things as far as possible from the camera. I'm also thinking that my K5 electronic level indicator is little bit off (or my sensor is degree or two tilted). So if that error affects on headings with O-gps then I need to upgrade my system sometime. Now I will go with these and try stacking. Originally posted by fs999 Where can I find a good star map on internet ? I'm using google sky map with my phone on site.

12-12-2014, 12:00 PM	#739
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,639	Originally posted by TedH42 The Pleiades, M45. Thank you very much ! Originally posted by ErZi I'm using google sky map with my phone on site. Thank you ! I will have a look

12-12-2014, 01:32 PM	#740
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	One thing I might try, sometime, is to first take the bearing to the target with an ordinary compass. Then aim the camera and mount a small and very weak magnet on top of the GPS, (or perhaps a strong magnet on a tripod nearby) and then rotate the magnet until the desired bearing shows on the display. I wonder what that will do with the accuracy.

12-15-2014, 06:48 AM	#741
seti_v2 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 59	Hi FS999, saw your post asking about star maps. the best star map is astrometry.net You load up your image and it plate solves for you. Astrometry.net <- upload link hope you don't mind I took the liberty of doing your two images Astrometry.net <- your widefield Astrometry.net <- you closeup ---------- Post added 12-15-14 at 08:08 AM ---------- Unless you are talking about in the field. Than I use SkEye app on my phone or Stellarium planetarium software (its free)

12-15-2014, 09:33 AM	#742
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,639	Thank you seti_v2 ! Nice app !

12-15-2014, 03:10 PM - 1 Like	#743
y0chang Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: United States Posts: 793	Pentax K5 DA 12-24, f4, ISO 6400, 30 sec exposure. The foreground is illuminated by a passing car. This is lake mattamuskeet, one of the darkest spots on the east coast of America. You can see the double cluster, the Andromeda Galaxy, and one of the many bright Geminid meteors that I saw on Saturday Night.

01-08-2015, 08:54 AM - 2 Likes	#746
Learjet Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mackay Queensland Posts: 79	Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) January 8. Near to close approach tonight. 14 x 30 seconds, 8" F4 Newtonian, Baader MPCC MKIII coma corrector, HEQ5 pro unguided, Pentax K-5. Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) January 8 2015 (Kevin) \| AstroBin

01-08-2015, 10:05 AM	#747
JimmyDranox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ploiesti, Romania Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,632	Very good. Like it.

01-17-2015, 12:20 PM	#749
maxxxx Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 385	Originally posted by Eric Seavey Comet Lovejoy. Taken near Los Angeles. I subtracted the light pollution from the photo to get this shot. Used a Celestron 5i telescope and tracked the comet. The comet was not visible to the naked eye here, so I use the O-GPS-1 and my 40mm prime to spot the comet in relation to other stars and scanned the region with the telescope until I found it. I also live near LA. Can you explain how you subtract the light pollution? What software do you use? I have Photoshop elements and Lightroom.

01-17-2015, 01:51 PM - 1 Like	#750
Eric Seavey Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Irvine, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 307	You take a photo of the subject, and then you move the camera a little such that there are vey few stars in the frame. Then you unfocus the camera and take a photo. In photoshop you take the blurry image and add it as a layer and select difference to reduce the light pollution.