A new image and a new YouTube video where I discuss creating the image and photography in the Monongahela National Forest are now on the website.
Image details:
Canon Ra with Rokinon 24mm f1.4 lens at f2. Stacked 8 images of 10 second exposures for the Milky Way sky.
For the complete story, please see the video posted on the YouTube video tab. Thanks and clear skies.
In my opinion, this is the most exciting realm of astrophotography today. It is bringing together multiple advances in gear and processing to bring about new artistic expression of the wonders of the universe. The technique has been around for years, but the advances and affordability to the amateur in fast optics, higher quality sensors, and high quality narrow band filter has taken the process to mainstream. This image is an experimentation with remote data I captured from Australia. I am really just getting my toes wet with this process, but I am already in love with the possibilities. I will have a YouTube video about this topic in the near future. Much more to come, but for now…here is the Great Eta Carinae nebula in a customized color palette taken with hydrogen alpha, OIII, and Sulpher II filters. Thanks for visiting and drop me a line if you have any questions.
My entire purpose is for the viewer to share and experience the wonder of God’s great creation. I am constantly learning new techniques and visualizations to achieve this goal. One new technique involves a spherical VR presentation utilizing the Mavic Air 2. This is my first try at it, but the scene simply could not be any better. Rising high above the Cheat River watershed is the Olson fire tower. Overlooking the Blackwater canyon and river, one can see for miles and miles. The best way to share this experience is by VR spherical panorama. I invite you to click on the link below and take a tour of this fascinating view of my beautiful home state.
The latest YouTube video presents an amazing night with the rising Milky Way over Clifty Creek in eastern Kentucky. Please check out the video on the YouTube page. Here are the still images from the night. Don’t miss out on the time lapse of the Milky Way rising on the YouTube video!
24mm Rokinon on the Canon RP captures the rising Milky Way over Clifty Creek.
A 3 row panorama with the 24mm Rokinon present the majesty of the Milky Way.
Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars form an obtuse triangle under the arch of the Milky Way.
Hello and thank you for visiting. I imaged C/2019Y4 on Wednesday March 24, 2020 from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. As I was gathering data, I could see the comet moving closer for a drive by of what looks to be an irregular galaxy. I can’t find this object in any of the sky references. There is also an edge-on galaxy above my name plate that I can’t identify. If you have the ability to identify these objects or could point me in the direction for more detailed database, I would be most appreciative. Thanks again and clear skies.
Thanks to Dale Ghent for providing the annotated picture that shows the fuzzy galaxy in question is 16.97 magnitude PGC 2717206! Thanks Dale!
Acquisition details:
Astro-Physics 130EDF Gran Turismo with 2x Astro-Physics Advanced Barlow
ZWOASI294MC Pro with 1 minute subs at 183 gain. 10 stacked for stars and 122 for comet stacking.
ASI Air plate solving calculated a 1463mm focal length and the long edge of the FOV at 77 arc minutes.
Minor edge cropping of the field.
Zoom with the irregular galaxy at about the 5 o’clock position off of the comet nucleus.
Edge-on galaxy at bottom right corner.
Annotated image showing 11 galaxies in the field. Thanks Dale!
