Rod's Deepsky DSI, CCD, and Astrovideo Imaging Page:
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 |
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NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula | 16 September 2006 | MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site |
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M31 The Great Andromeda Galaxy | 16 September 2006 | MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site |
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NGC 6992 The Bridal Veil Nebula | 16 September 2006 | MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site |
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M101, NGC 5457, The Pinwheel Galaxy | 22 April 2006 | Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia |
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M51, NGC 5194, The Whirlpool Galaxy | 22 April 2006 | Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia |
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M81, Bode's Galaxy, NGC 3031 in Ursa Major. | 22 April 2006 | Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia |
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M82, NGC 3034, The Exploding Cigar Galaxy | 22 April 2006 | Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia |
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M53, NGC 5024, Globular Cluster in Coma Berenices. | 22 April 2006 | Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia |
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M3, NGC 5272, The Canes Globular Cluster | 22 April 2006 | Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia |
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NGC 4565, The Flying Saucer Galaxy in Coma Berenices. | 22 April 2006 | Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia |
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M63, NGC 1055, The Sunflower Galaxy | 22 April 2006 | Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia |
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M97, NGC 3587, The Owl Nebula | 22 April 2006 | Georgia Sky View, Jackson, Georgia |
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NGC 891 | 30 October 2005 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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Stephan's Quintet | 30 October 2005 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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NGC 7331 and the Deerlick Group | 30 October 2005 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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M33 in Triangulum, the Pinwheel | 30 October 2005 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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M15, The Horse's Nose Cluster | 30 October 2005 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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NGC 6888, The Crescent Nebula in Cygnus | 30 October 2005 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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NGC 253, the Golden Galleon Galaxy | 30 October 2005 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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M16, the Eagle Nebula | 30 October 2005 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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Sagittarius' M8, the Lagoon Nebula | 30 October 2005 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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M27, the Dumbbell (planetary) Nebula in Vulpecula | 30 October 2005 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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The Trifid Nebula, M20 | 2 July 2005 | Stargate Observatory, Fairhope, AL |
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The Swan (or Omega) Nebula, M17 | 2 July 2005 | Stargate Observatory, Fairhope, AL |
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Globular Cluster M22 in Sagittarius | 2 July 2005 | Stargate Observatory, Fairhope, AL |
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The Blinking Planetary in Cygnus, NGC 6826 | 2 July 2005 | Stargate Observatory, Fairhope, AL |
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Globular Cluster M71 in Sagitta | 4 June 2005 | Pine Lake Observatory, Mobile, AL |
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M15, the Horse's Nose Cluster | 4 June 2005 | Pine Lake Observatory, Mobile, AL |
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M57, The Ring Nebula | 4 June 2005 | Pine Lake Observatory, Mobile, AL |
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M13, The Great Hercules Cluster | 4 June 2005 | Pine Lake Observatory, Mobile, AL |
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M5, The Serpens Cluster | 4 June 2005 | Pine Lake Observatory, Mobile, AL |
The Stellacam II Images
| Thumbnail | Name/I.D. | Date | Location |
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Hickson 20 | 9 November 2007 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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Hickson 19 | 9 November 2007 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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Hickson 18 | 9 November 2007 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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Hickson 17 | 9 November 2007 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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Hickson 16 | 9 November 2007 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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Hickson 15 | 9 November 2007 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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Hickson 14 | 9 November 2007 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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Hickson 13 | 9 November 2007 | Deep South Regional Star Gaze |
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Hickson 12 | 9 November 2007 | DSRSG |
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Hickson 11 | 9 November 2007 | DSRSG |
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Hickson 10 | 9 November 2007 | DSRSG |
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Hickson 9 | 9 November 2007 | DSRSG |
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Hickson 8 | 9 November 2007 | DSRSG |
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Hickson 7 | 9 November 2007 | DSRSG |
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Hickson 6 | 9 November 2007 | DSRSG |
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M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy | 10 March 2007 | MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site |
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The Horsehead Nebula, B33 | 10 March 2007 | MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site |
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M106, NGC 4268 | 10 March 2007 | MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site |
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M87 and his Jet | 10 March 2007 | MAS Tanner-Williams Dark Site |
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M42, NGC1976, The Great Orion Nebula. | 25 February 2006 | Pine Lake Observatory |
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NGC 6888, LBN 203, The Crescent Nebula | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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M105, NGC 3379, Elliptical Galaxy in Leo. | 25 February 2006 | Pine Lake Observatory |
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M16 (cluster) and IC 4703 (Nebula): The Eagle Nebula | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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M17, NGC 6618, The Swan Nebula | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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M20, NGC 6514, The Trifid Nebula | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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M51, NGC 5194, The Whirlpool Galzaxy. | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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M64, NGC 4826, The Blackeye Galaxy. | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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M79, NGC 1904, Globular Cluster in Lepus. | 25 February 2006 | Pine Lake Observatory |
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M8, NGC 6523, The Lagoon Nebula | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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M81, NGC 3031, Bode's Galaxy | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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M82, NGC 3034, The Exploding Cigar Galaxy | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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M94, NGC 4736, The Croc's Eye Galaxy. | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann (73P) | 28 April 2006 | Chiefland Astronomy Village |
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