Solar Eclipse Oct. 23 2014.

I took these images from my backyard in Sherkston.

      Using a solar filter on my 300mm Canon zoom,  I was able to capture the moon and giant sunspot AR2192. 

 The Eclipse sinking into the trees.  No filter was used for this shot.

The East, and Western Veil Nebula

This past September finally gave us some of the best skies all season.  This was the perfect opportunity to do some imaging.  With the Veil nebula at the meridian it was my last chance of the year.  These images where captured over 2 nights.  Using my NP101 and Moded Canon XSi, I captured 20, 420sec. images of each object @ 1600iso.  All processing was done using Photoshop CS6e.

The Western Veil..The Witches Broom.  NGC6960

The Eastern Veil.  NGC6992,6995

IC1396, The Elephant Trunk

 Finally a clear night for astrophotography.  I got to try out my new imaging scope, a Tele Vue NP101.  I captured a total of 72min. of IC1396, The Elephant Trunk.  I used my IR modded Canon XSi.  There where no Flat, Dark, or Bias frames used.  All processing was done using Photoshop CS6e with the Google NIC collection.  

 The Elephant's Trunk nebula is a concentration of interstellar gas and dust within the much larger ionized gas region IC 1396 located in the constellation Cepheus about 2,400 light years away from Earth.

The Crescent Nebula.  NGC6888... 

    Well this summer hasn't been very good for Adtrophotography.  To many cloudy, or hazy nights.  I did manage to capture this image in late July.  I used my modifies Canon XSi on my TV101.  I captured and stacked 8 x 300sec exposures @ 1600iso.  All processing was done using Photoshop CS6e.

Messier 27,  The Dumbbell Nebula (also known as Apple Core Nebula), It is a Planetary Nebula about 1,360 light years away in the constellation Vulpecula.

I captured this image on June 19th from my backyard.
     I used my Celestron C8 telescope @f6.3  and my moded Canon XSi (450D) Camera.  I stacked  10, 240sec. exposures and processed the results using Photoshop CS6e, I was able to get my best image yet of the Dumbbell.  :)
     Now if only the weather would co-operate I could get on with photographing the rest of what summer night skies have to offer.

My Observatory  BBO Canada (Blue Braille Observatory)

     The Observatory was built in 2011 with help from Friends, Family, and encouragement from my wife.  Most of the materials used was reclaimed lumber, and supplies from the local Re-Store.  The total cost was under $1500.00.  It is an 12 x 8 foot structure, with an 8' x 8' roll off roof  open observatory, and a 4' x 8'  ft. heated warm room.     

     The warm room is where all the work is done.  Here I can spend hours in comfort, controlling the telescope, and cameras.

Equipment from Left to Right
Lostmandy Gemini GoTo mount controller,  Samsung 19" LCD monitor,  LG 24" HD LED Monitor, Sony 14" Trinatron TV Monitor(old 1980s TV) below are 2 Moto Focus controllers, Moonlight, and JMI.
There is also a Windows 7 PC to run everything, and Altec Speakers, with Sub for some Kick Ass Sound.

 The open section of the Observatory holds the mount, and telescopes

The mount is a Losmandy G11 with Gemini I  GoTo Computer.

The telescopes
1 -My new Tele Vue NP101 f5.4 APO Refractor It is used for all my wide field photography.
2 - Celestron Ultima C8 f10 SCT.  using it with a f6.3 reducer,  It is perfect for imaging smaller objects like galaxies, and globular clusters.  It is also Fastar compatible which makes a very fast f2.0.
3 - Lunt Solar LS60T Ha.  It is a dedicated 60mm solar telescope.  Used only for viewing, and imaging the sun.

Other equipment includes a Celestron 70mm scope with an attached Orion Starshoot guide camera.  The auto guider enables me to take very long exposures with my camera by correcting the motion of the mount, keeping the target from drifting. 

    Here are a few shots of the moon I captured Tuesday evening.  There was a slight haze, but the seeing was steady.  These images where taken using my C8, Canon XSi, and BYEOS.  The avi's where stacked using Registax with final processing in Photoshop.  I love some of the long shadows.  Looks like I just missed the "Lunar X".