Rod's  Deepsky DSI, CCD, and Astrovideo Imaging Page:

Instamatic Astrophotography!


I've been taking deep sky images of one kind or another for a long, long time. Since that night in the late 60s when I pointed my Edmund Scientific Newtonian at M42 and dreamed of getting a recognizable picture of the Great Nebula with my Exacta. Dream was all I did for quite a while--it took me quite some time to move beyond the smudge stage. 

I loved film astrophotography, but, unfortunately, due to the increasing light pollution in the Mobile, Alabama metro area, I've--sadly--had to move 'beyond' film. It is and was time to "go CCD." After trying several alternatives over several years, I'm starting to feel comfortable with Meade's DSI ('Deep Sky Imager') camera (pictured above). Frankly, this amazing little gadget has allowed me to get better pictures more easily than I ever dreamed possible. For my complete review, see:  http://www.buytelescopes.com/container.asp?dest=/uncle_rod/archive5.htm

Will I move beyond the DSI to the "big time" of the fantastic SBIGs? I'm beginning to. There's no doubt that sophisticated cameras from SBIG, Yankee Robotics and FLI can produce fantastic results in the hands of committed users. But... One rule I've always tried to adhere to in astro-gear is, "wring every last ounce of performance out of what you have before you move on to the 'better'." With that in mind, whatever else I acquire, I intend to keep working with the DSI. If nothing else, it provides a superbly easy way to get color images.

These pictures ain't in the Jack Newton league. But they're the kind of thing I do and did with film photography, too. I am NOT a deep sky Ansel Adams. I'm a celestial snapshooter. The astronomical equivalent of a 1960s tourist snapping everything in sight with his beloved Kodak Instamatic. The idea is much the same. I don't haul tons of gear out. These shots were taken with an humble C8 OTA riding on Celestron's inexpensive AS GT (CG5) mount. I didn't agonize over subjects or spend hours doing drift alignments. I just took happy little snapshots of the wonders that amazed me as I traveled the deep, deep sky.

I give you, then, INSTAMATIC ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY!


 

Rod's Latest SBIG ST2000 Images

The Great Glob: M13, Jewel of Hercules. 

C8 OTA (1995 Ultima8), SBIG ST2000, Celestron CG5 mount. Three five minute subs.

 

 

 

The Rosette Nebula, NGC 2237-39. The William Optics Patriot f/5.9 66mm APO did a good job of framing this immense (80.0'x60.0') cloud. 10 minute exposure on Celestron CG5.

 

B33, the elusive (for visual observers) Horsehead Nebula.William Optics Megrez 90 Fluorite,  Celestron CG5 mount, 15 minute exposure at f/7

 


The Meade DSI Images

(Click On Thumbnail for Large Image and Information)

Thumbnail  Name/I.D. Date Location
NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula 16 September 2006 MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site
M31 The Great Andromeda Galaxy 16 September 2006 MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site
NGC 6992 The Bridal Veil Nebula 16 September 2006 MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site
M101, NGC 5457, The Pinwheel Galaxy 22 April 2006 Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia
M51, NGC 5194, The Whirlpool Galaxy 22 April 2006 Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia
M81, Bode's Galaxy, NGC 3031 in Ursa Major. 22 April 2006 Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia
M82, NGC 3034, The Exploding Cigar Galaxy 22 April 2006 Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia
M53, NGC 5024, Globular Cluster in Coma Berenices. 22 April 2006 Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia
M3, NGC 5272, The Canes Globular Cluster 22 April 2006 Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia
NGC 4565, The Flying Saucer Galaxy in Coma Berenices. 22 April 2006 Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia
M63, NGC 1055, The Sunflower Galaxy 22 April 2006 Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia
M97, NGC 3587, The Owl Nebula 22 April 2006 Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia
NGC 891 30 October 2005 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Stephan's Quintet 30 October 2005 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
NGC 7331 and the Deerlick Group 30 October 2005 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
M33 in Triangulum, the Pinwheel 30 October 2005 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
M15, The Horse's Nose Cluster 30 October 2005 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
NGC 6888, The Crescent Nebula in Cygnus 30 October 2005 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
NGC 253, the Golden Galleon Galaxy 30 October 2005 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
M16, the Eagle Nebula 30 October 2005 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Sagittarius' M8, the Lagoon Nebula 30 October 2005 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
M27, the Dumbbell (planetary) Nebula in Vulpecula 30 October 2005 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
The Trifid Nebula, M20 2 July 2005 Stargate Observatory, Fairhope, AL
The Swan (or Omega) Nebula, M17 2 July 2005 Stargate Observatory, Fairhope, AL
Globular Cluster M22 in Sagittarius 2 July 2005 Stargate Observatory, Fairhope, AL
The Blinking Planetary in Cygnus, NGC 6826 2 July 2005 Stargate Observatory, Fairhope, AL
Globular Cluster M71 in Sagitta 4 June 2005 Pine Lake Observatory, Mobile, AL
M15, the Horse's Nose Cluster 4 June 2005 Pine Lake Observatory, Mobile, AL
M57, The Ring Nebula 4 June 2005 Pine Lake Observatory, Mobile, AL
M13, The Great Hercules Cluster 4 June 2005 Pine Lake Observatory, Mobile, AL
M5, The Serpens Cluster 4 June 2005 Pine Lake Observatory, Mobile, AL

 


 

The Stellacam II Images

 

Thumbnail  Name/I.D. Date Location
Hickson 20 9 November 2007 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Hickson 19 9 November 2007 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Hickson 18 9 November 2007 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Hickson 17 9 November 2007 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Hickson 16 9 November 2007 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Hickson 15 9 November 2007 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Hickson 14 9 November 2007 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Hickson 13 9 November 2007 Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Hickson 12 9 November 2007 DSRSG
Hickson 11 9 November 2007 DSRSG
Hickson 10 9 November 2007 DSRSG
Hickson 9 9 November 2007 DSRSG
Hickson 8 9 November 2007 DSRSG
Hickson 7 9 November 2007 DSRSG
Hickson 6 9 November 2007 DSRSG
M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy 10 March 2007 MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site
The Horsehead Nebula, B33 10 March 2007 MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site
M106, NGC 4268 10 March 2007 MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site
M87 and his Jet 10 March 2007 MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site
M42, NGC1976, The Great Orion Nebula. 25 February 2006 Pine Lake Observatory
NGC 6888, LBN 203, The Crescent Nebula 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village
M105, NGC 3379, Elliptical Galaxy in Leo. 25 February 2006 Pine Lake Observatory
M16 (cluster) and IC 4703 (Nebula): The Eagle Nebula 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village
M17, NGC 6618, The Swan Nebula 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village
M20, NGC 6514, The Trifid Nebula 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village
M51, NGC 5194, The Whirlpool Galzaxy. 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village
M64, NGC 4826, The Blackeye Galaxy. 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village
M79, NGC 1904, Globular Cluster in Lepus. 25 February 2006 Pine Lake Observatory
M8, NGC 6523, The Lagoon Nebula 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village
M81, NGC 3031, Bode's Galaxy 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village
M82, NGC 3034, The Exploding Cigar Galaxy 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village
M94, NGC 4736, The Croc's Eye Galaxy. 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village
Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann (73P) 28 April 2006 Chiefland Astronomy Village

 


 

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