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Forum: Post Your Photos! 12-17-2023, 11:09 AM  
Night A New Andromeda
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 5
Views: 167
I finally photographed M31, the Andromeda Galaxy again. This was the first object that got me hooked on astrophotography all those years ago. Its been many years since I photographed it. I figured it was about time I did it again.

Andromeda is located over 2,000,000 light years away. It is thought to be roughly the size of our own galaxy, spanning 61,000 light years across. Andromeda is moving towards us at a rate of 250,000 m.p.h. It won't collide with our galaxy for another 4 billion years, but it is thought some of the Milky Way's and Andromeda's furthest stars and gasses are already colliding with each other.

This is 7.5 hours of imaging time with 800 images total over 2 nights, using two different cameras and a cheap old camera lens. I used a mono camera for the luminance data, but a color camera for the color information. Looking back on it, I should have just spent the time using filters and the mono camera to get the color information. The final photo would have been more detailed.


Here's a large version if you want to look at it in detail.

Large Image of Andromeda

M31 7.5 Hours Small by Colo CJ, on Flickr




Here is my first Astrophoto, the one that started it all. Roughly $20,000.00 and an observatory later, and I am still hooked.

Andromeda 8 Stacked by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-28-2023, 08:34 PM  
Nature The Elephant's Trunk
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 15
Views: 923
Thanks everone!

I just shot 12 hours of this same subject, but used a Takumar 200mm F3.5 lens instead of a telescope for a more wide-field view.

Shot a couple weeks ago here at my new home in Tennessee.

I should probably make a new post, but here it is.

Elephants-Trunk-Widefield_Small by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-20-2023, 06:51 PM  
Landscape Fall Flight Over Middle Tennessee
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 6
Views: 214
Figured I'd post this here. It isn't taken with any of my Pentax cameras though.

This was shot with a GoPro on a Chase Cam setup I printed up yesterday. I wouldn't trust any of my Pentax cameras danging from a rope at 1000 ft. :lol:


Timeline 1_01_00_46_18 by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: General Talk 11-20-2023, 03:46 PM  
One of My Other Hobbies - Flying Paramotors
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 1
Views: 198
One of my other hobbies (just started last year) is paramotoring.

Some of the most fun I've ever had!

Yesterday I flew the first time with a chase camera, basically a Gopro mounted to a giant shuttlecock. Still have a little work to do to get the full canopy in the frame, but it is working great!

Paramotoring and photography go together so well, just have to be sure to not drop the camera :lol:

Here's a short video showing what the Chase Cam can do: https://youtu.be/I3rZ8434RXQ?si=RgL0IinGOCT_vr8D






Timeline 1_01_00_46_18 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

Insta360 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

28 Nov 2022 - 2 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

DSCF4434 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

DSCF4181 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

PIC_9126 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

2023_0711_20444600 by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Lens Clubs 11-16-2023, 10:36 AM  
Takumar club
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 18,987
Views: 3,712,341
One more with the Takumar 200mm F3.5 Preset.

12 hours total imaging on the Elephant's Trunk Nebula.

Elephants-Trunk-Widefield_Small by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Lens Clubs 10-04-2023, 05:22 PM  
Takumar club
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 18,987
Views: 3,712,341
Taken with one of my most favorite lenses, the Takumar 200mm F3.5 Preset.

Kind of a different subject matter though. The Crescent Nebula and surrounding dust.

NGC6888-Widefield-Small by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 09-21-2023, 09:32 AM  
Misc Fire in the Sky
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 9
Views: 324
Man, I know how to party! :lol:]

I spent my birthday evening processing 6 hours of data I shot over the past few nights on the Crescent Nebula and its surroundings. The Crescent nebula was formed when a massive star in it's center went supernova and threw off it's outer shell. The hot plasma, dust and gasses glow brightly to this day. It is located 5000 light years away and spans 25 light years across. Think of that, a star can explode SO violently that its constituent makeup can travel so far as to expand 25 light years. Crazy.

Man am I excited! These past two images I have made are (to me) my best yet. And I am using super cheap lenses made in the '70's, a Pentax Takumar 200mm F3.5 Preset. Now that I am imaging in a darker area, I am getting so much better captures compared to where I used to live. I really can't wait to set up my better, larger telescopes and see what they can do here.

Here is the larger version. I REALLY recommend you click over and see it in full screen. Much better on what I can post here. This still isn't full size (full size would measure 54 inches across), but it is good enough to see what's going on:


LARGE IMAGE



NGC6888-Widefield-Small by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 09-15-2023, 06:45 PM  
Night Portals in the Sky
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 2
Views: 176
They are out there, you just have to know where to look.

I shot this over the past few nights. This is NGC7000 (North American Nebula) and IC5070 (the Pelican Nebula). This beautiful pair of nebula are separated by a dark nebula, dense with galactic dust. Located roughly 1600 lightyears away, this pair of nebula spans 4 full moons in width and can actually be seen (in very dark locations) with a pair of large binoculars.

I've taken close up images before of each of these nebula separately, but have never taken such a widefield image of the pair. Since moving to Tennessee, I've been somewhat forced to use what I can since I no longer have an observatory or a good way to set up my larger scopes (too many trees here), so I've been using a small $30 Nikon 105mm lens paired to a tiny motorized mount. The whole imaging platform can be carried in one hand, so it's easy to set up and move around to image on different parts of the land (to get a clear area of sky). I am amazed at what the cheap setup is giving me though. I'd say this is one of my better images to date! Its fun getting a wider look at the universe.

Hopefully in a year or two I'll have my observatory built on some acreage I own about 10 minutes away so I can start to use my large scopes again. For now though, I am very happy just using this cheap extremely portable setup.

Anyway, enough talking. Here is a larger view to see it in more detail, only about 1/4 as large as the full size image though. I don't have a place to post the full size image yet.

Large Image


NGC7000-Widefield-Small by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 01-13-2023, 08:16 PM  
The CCD Sensor Cult. I mean Club...
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 4,619
Views: 257,610
Here's a couple from my 645D and 35mm f3.5

Emerald-Lake-3 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

Emerald-Lake-5 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

Emerald-Lake-4 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

Emerald-Lake-7 by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-15-2022, 09:24 PM  
Landscape Contest (Medium Format Photos) Misty Mountain Morning
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 4
Views: 367
A rare misty mountain morning in Rocky Mountain National Park

Emerald-Lake-3 by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-09-2022, 08:17 AM  
Landscape An Evening Paramotor Flight
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 4
Views: 317
I used a Fuji XF10, a 28mm equivalent APS-C compact camera. I'll be taking up my K1 once I get more flights in and have a decent way to carry it.

And yes, that is my instructor flying in the distance.

Flying a paramotor is going to give me a lot of new photographing opportunities.
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-08-2022, 11:26 PM  
Landscape An Evening Paramotor Flight
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 4
Views: 317
Tonight I had my 6th paramotor flight. The three of us (my instructor, another student and I) flew roughly 18 miles. Man what an experience!

Anyway, here is a photo I took while hanging from a flying lawn chair. I am completely hooked.

DSCF4102-Edit by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-04-2022, 07:25 AM  
Sports Maiden Flight - Many Photos
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 11
Views: 386
Man, it is life changing. Absolutely nothing like it, no cockpit, or windscreen in front of you, just hanging out in the open air.

I was a little nervous before the first flight, but once my feet left the ground, it just felt natural for some reason. I was completely calm and felt fully in control. On the second flight, there was no nerves at all since I now knew what to expect.

What surprised me most was how easy it was to take off. That motor is heavy and I thought it would be a chore, but after a few steps, when the motors power kicked in and I started to lean back, all the weight was off my shoulders and I was being lifted up. I was still "running", but it didn't feel like much since the motors thrust was what was taking me down the field.

On the next flight we are going to work on shortening the takeoff.
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-03-2022, 07:52 PM  
Sports Maiden Flight - Many Photos
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 11
Views: 386
Definitely going to be addicting!

I just finished editing the video of the maiden flights. Here it is!
















Youtu.be



Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-03-2022, 07:36 AM  
Sports Maiden Flight - Many Photos
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 11
Views: 386
After roughly two years of dreaming, I finally had my maiden Paramotor flight!

Photos taken with my camera by another student while I was up in the air.

I was a little nervous when strapping on the paramotor, knowing that in a minute or two I'd be hanging from those straps. I clipped into the wing, and sent it.

Taking off was easier than I thought it would be. In what seemed like no time at all, the weight of the paramotor was off my back and it was pulling me up into the sky. The first flight lasted about 15 minutes and I had a less than perfect landing. Nothing bad at all, just didn't land on my feet. I flared a little too late and was none the worse for wear.

The second flight was a short flight since the sun was going down. The takeoff was even easier and after 5-6 minutes, the landing was as smooth as could be.

This is going to get VERY addicting!

I'll post the videos later as my dad was shooting from the ground and I had a gopro on my helmet. For now, here are a few of the photos taken tonight. One of the other students used my camera and took some photos for me.

_IMG1039 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1040 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1066 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1067 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1068 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1069 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1073 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1077 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1056 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1058 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1093 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1095 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1096 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

_IMG1097 by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 09-08-2022, 05:48 PM  
Night The Elephant's Trunk
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 5
Views: 355
I'm in the middle of moving, so all my telescopes are packed away. To get my astronomy fix, I am going through old data and reprocessing some images since I have now learned a lot more of Pixinsight.

Anyway, here is a first for me, processing data collected from two different scopes, so two different focal lengths and mirror imaged to each other and shot roughly a year apart. It was more simple than I though it would be, but still took quite a bit of time.

This is the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, roughly 3000 light years away. This is just the central part of the nebula, the whole nebula would span 10 full moons across if you could see it with the naked eye.

After a few hours of processing, this is what I got.

Here is a larger version if you' like to see it in more detail: https://scontent-den4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/305253793_102223349829028...1Q&oe=63200137



ElephantsTrunk-RASA-MN190-Combined-SMALL by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 08-29-2022, 06:51 AM  
Night The Pillars of Creation
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 12
Views: 584
Thanks everyone!



For this image I used a Skywatcher MN190 Mak Newt and a ZWO ASI183MM Pro cooled mono camera and filters.

_CFA9680-1-2 by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 08-28-2022, 09:34 AM  
Night The Pillars of Creation
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 12
Views: 584
I'm going through some old data of when I first started in Astrophotography. I've learned better processing techniques over the years, so I am able to make MUCH better images than I did years ago.

Here's one I shot a few years ago that I just reprocessed tonight. It is only 4 hours of total imaging, in my light polluted Loveland backyard, but I am very happy with what I got out of just a few images (roughly 25, 500 second images).

This is M16, the Eagle Nebula, or better known from the famous Hubble image titled "Pillars of Creation". It is a vast stellar nursery with pillars of dust and gas that is coalescing into newborn stars.

Located some 7000 light years from Earth, the pillars themselves stand 4-5 light years high. They are slowly being eroded by the very stars that they have created.

Here is a larger 2500px wide image if you want to see it larger: https://scontent-den4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/302080084_102223058617747...lg&oe=63101457


Pillars-of-Creation_small by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II 06-04-2022, 04:25 PM  
Post your K-1 pictures!
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 37,969
Views: 3,726,307
K-1, Sigma Art 35mm F1.4

Devils-Tower-Small-Final by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 12-26-2021, 08:02 AM  
Night Cygnus Wall
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 7
Views: 289
I have learned a lot over the past year, so I am starting to go back through some of my old data and using that new knowledge to make my images better.

Here's one I worked on today, the Cygnus Wall. This is just a small portion of the North American Nebula, located 1800 light years from earth. Composed of dense dust and gasses, it glows from surrounding starlight.

This is a "starless" version where I removed the stars so that the detail of the nebulosity shines through.

Here is a 2500px wide version which is much more detailed to look at: https://scontent-den4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/270191895_102211483324372...LA&oe=61CC5A74

Cygnus-Wall-Small by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 12-02-2021, 11:42 AM  
Night The Great Orion Nebula
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 8
Views: 363
The Rasa 11 is the equivalent of a 620mm F2.2 lens. My astro camera has an M4/3 sized sensor.

So, the angle of view is 1.22 degrees x .81 degrees. You can have two full moons side by side in this image.
Forum: Post Your Photos! 12-02-2021, 11:38 AM  
Night The Great Orion Nebula
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 8
Views: 363
Thanks everyone!



Yes. this is a true color image. No additional coloration or anything was applied.

If you have a large enough scope and a dark enough sky, you can see a similar (though not as detailed ) image, even the coloration.
Forum: Post Your Photos! 12-01-2021, 08:35 PM  
Night The Great Orion Nebula
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 8
Views: 363
I have been having a lot of fun lately with my astro setup. I promise to post some shots with my K1 and 645D later, but for now here is one more with some more specialized equipment.

I shot this over the weekend in my light polluted Colorado backyard.

This is M42, or The Great Orion Nebula, a stellar nursery. Hot dust and gasses are so dense here, that they eventually pull together. Once enough mass is gathered, a reaction begins to happen. Nuclear fusion is sparked and one more star starts to shine.

Taken with a Celestron RASA 11 and a dedicated cooled astro camera. This image was made from 500 separate 10 second images.

A larger version can be seen here: https://scontent-den4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/261420635_102210133531828...2d&oe=61AC5178

Orion-Rasa-11-small by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Post Your Photos! 11-30-2021, 08:56 AM  
Night M33 - A Vast Stellar Nursery
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 8
Views: 416
This is M33, or the Triangulum Galaxy. It is one of the closest galaxies to us, a mere 3,000,000 light years from earth.

The galaxy is filled with huge nebulae (the red areas) where stars are being formed 10 times faster than the average galaxy. It is one of the few galaxies where nebulae is so visible, because of their size and distance to us. These nebulae are like our own Great Orion, stellar nurseries building stars at an incredible rate.

This image might look grainy, or noisy, but it isn't. Those tiny blue and red dots aren't noise, but millions of stars being resolved in the picture. Normally, when photographing galaxies, you just see a blur of color. No stars are resolved, but these stars are hot blue stars, and are close enough to resolve into points of light on the camera sensor.


I finished this one up Sunday night. It was a little more difficult than normal for me since this is the first time trying to make an HaRGB image in Pixinsight. This is also the first time I did the majority of work (95%) in Pixinsight and only used Photoshop for a tiny tweak.

It was a fun experience and I learned a lot, but man, I have many hours into this one.

This was shot from my light polluted Colorado backyard (Bortle 7) with a RASA 11.

Equiment used:

Celestron RASA 11
ZWO ASI183MC Pro
ZWO ASI183MM Pro
EQ6-R Pro
ZWO ASI290MM Mini
50mm Guide Scope

This image was made from:

300, 20 second RGB images at gain 54
40, 2 minute Ha images at gain 111

Link to 3000px wide version (much nicer to look at, though facebook still degrades it a lot):

https://scontent-den4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/262738565_102210244211795...b6&oe=61AB296C

M33-small by Colo CJ, on Flickr
Forum: Pentax Medium Format 08-31-2021, 08:09 PM  
Post your medium format photos!
Posted By Colorado CJ
Replies: 20,356
Views: 3,148,803
Pentax 645D, 35mm f3.5

Emerald Lake Trail, RMNP

Emerald-Lake-3 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

Emerald-Lake-5 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

Emerald-Lake-4 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

Emerald-Lake-7 by Colo CJ, on Flickr

Emerald-Lake-1 by Colo CJ, on Flickr
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