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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-09-2015, 07:33 AM
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Thanks Obin! Nah I've got a full telescope setup I attach the K-3 to - it's a Skywatcher ED100 telescope with NEQ6 Pro mount to track the stars (all computer guided).
Here's tonights image of Lovejoy - much fainter tail - I used the Sigma 70-200
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-08-2015, 05:20 AM
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C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy - Imaged on 2015-01-08 at 9pm AEST from Mackay. Unfortunately conditions were not good with near constant cloud so only managed 1 frame before the cloud came in. Needless to say the detail in the tail now is incredible!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-17-2014, 01:41 AM
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Great shots everyone - First time I've used the scope in about 3 months last night! Decided to have a play with C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy here in Mackay. Couldn't get the tail with the ED100 at F7.65 last night so gonna give it a go with the 70-200mm at F2.8 tonight I think.
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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways
12-03-2014, 01:47 AM
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Great idea guys - keep up the good work!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-28-2014, 09:34 AM
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Set the scope up tonight and got M1 - 25x5 mins incl the 5 frames from the other night. Had a snooze from 830 till 1045 when I set the scope up then snoozed from 11 till 145 while it took shots. Pretty happy with this. Sleep time again now - storms to chase tomorrow!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-22-2014, 04:58 AM
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Thanks guys - yeah my only problem is that I have to deal with the tropics and a lot of the time it's a race against time to get as much imaging done before the clouds move in - I'll be getting more images of the flame nebula again soon to smooth out the noise and bring more detail out (really had to stretch the histogram quite a bit in Photoshop hence more noise).
Here's Comet PanSTARRS C/2012 K1 I took last night
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-17-2014, 06:20 PM
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Had a blast last night here in Mackay under almost perfect conditions:
M43 - The Great Orion Nebula. Imaged on Skywatcher ED100 + 0.85x Reducer/FF, NEQ6 Pro mount, Pentax K3 @ ISO400 (10x180 second subs). Guided by Orion 80mm Shortscope + SSAG + PHDGuiding 2. Imaged on the 17-18th October 2014.
M45 - Pleiades. Imaged on Skywatcher ED100 + 0.85x Reducer/FF, NEQ6 Pro mount, Pentax K3 @ ISO800 (10x180 second subs). Guided by Orion 80mm Shortscope + SSAG + PHDGuiding 2. Imaged on the 17-18th October 2014.
NGC 2024 - The Flame Nebula (and Horse Head Nebula). Imaged on Skywatcher ED100 + 0.85x Reducer/FF, NEQ6 Pro mount, Pentax K3 @ ISO400 (26x180 second subs). Guided by Orion 80mm Shortscope + SSAG + PHDGuiding 2. Imaged on the 17-18th October 2014.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-08-2014, 07:37 PM
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What an unreal eclipse last night!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-29-2014, 09:25 PM
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I had a good one last night here in Mackay, was imaging until 2:15 this morning! Decided to give the 70-200 a go and got really good results. Taken at F3.2 and ISO3200 with 30x1 mins for M31 and 15x1 min and 8x30 seconds for M43.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-28-2014, 08:36 PM
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The weather certainly hasn't helped - I went last night to Teemburra Dam, got there about 8:30ish and even with the setting moon it was inky black skies.. perfect! Got the scope all set up then went to image...I kid you not within 10 seconds it went from clear skies to 100% overcast.. I watched the cloud materialize in front of my eyes! Didn't get a single image out there after waiting for an hour for it to clear up. Tonight is the last chance for me due to the impeding moon.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-24-2014, 08:43 PM
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I'm excited - my new IDAS LPS-P2 filter has arrived - can't wait to try it out
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-24-2014, 08:18 PM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-15-2014, 06:45 AM
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Thanks Kevin! Here's M16 I imaged over 2 nights for 1.5 hours total time.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-14-2014, 08:23 AM
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Few pics from tonight! I ventured out with the telescope about 100km west of Mackay and got some not too bad shots - unfortunately the wind wrecked half of the veil nebula shots (gusts up to 50km/hr from nowhere then would go dead calm again). I'm pretty stoked with M31 though - it's only a 5x5 min shot with no darks at all and none of the other data from the other nights either! I had the K5 running while I did shots with the K3 and captured a huge fireball meteorite! Time for zzz
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-13-2014, 07:36 PM
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I'm in the process of making up an NGC online catalog. I've gone through the entire 8000 objects and noted any good ones that I can take pics of - I've uploaded the results to my website categorised by zoom length - I'm yet to do the DSO ones by month as there are 365 of them I need to go through. These are for the Southern Hemisphere - I made it for Mackay (-21 latitude) but could be useful for other southern hemisphere latitudes.
http://astrophotography.bsch.com.au/ngc/ |
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-13-2014, 04:59 AM
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Nice work with Orion Kevin! I was gonna give the Veil nebula a crack tonight but low cloud kept me indoors.. maybe tomorrow :( Typical that 2 weeks during the moon there wasn't a cloud to be seen and now the moon is going we've got the SE'lies back and plenty of cloud doh
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-29-2014, 01:53 AM
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Tonights setting moon here in Mackay Australia
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-28-2014, 08:32 AM
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Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae - 10x5 minutes @ ISO400 on both images. Far out what an improvement since when I first started with M20!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-28-2014, 07:12 AM
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Nice shot mate! Glad you're having success with the O-GPS1. They're not the easiest units to use (precise calibration) and they really smash the AAA batteries fast. Well the 2 dew heaters I made are working a treat! almost 90% humidity and not a drop of dew on the lens :)) Been imaging now for close to 4 hours (M8, M20 and now M31)
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-27-2014, 07:28 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-26-2014, 02:28 AM
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Thanks mate! Am tempted to do some shots tonight but not sure if I can be bothered dealing with 90% humidity with the hair drier every 10 minutes lol. Tomorrow night we're forecast for 40-50% humidity so much better conditions
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-25-2014, 09:01 AM
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Tonights pics - Helix Nebula (20x3 mins @ ISO400) and NGC 253 (5x3 mins @ ISO800)
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-25-2014, 04:43 AM
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Thanks Kevin! I'm doing the Helix nebula tonight - here's the rig in action (K3 on scope, pic taken with K5. 6 seconds, ISO6400, F3.5x10 frames stacked in PS to reduce noise). I'm making the most out of these unusually clear, calm and crisp nights! Barely a flicker from the stars tonight even though the jetstream is 46m/s. Good seeing conditions though (3)
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-23-2014, 08:13 AM
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M31 Andromeda - 20x180 seconds @ ISO800.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-23-2014, 07:36 AM
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Ring Nebula tonight as well - 20x300 seconds @ ISO800
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