All posts by Peter Folkesson

M65, M66

M65, M66
M65, M66
M65, M66, NGC3628 cropped
M65, M66, NGC3628 cropped

2014-04-01 01:30-04:30
Mostly clear, some fog, no wind or moon, 0 degrees C

M65+M66
Exposures:
19x480s LIGHT
25x480s DARKS
200 BIAS
40 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800
Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight, Photoshop

M36, M38, NGC1931

M36, M38, NGC1931
M36, M38, NGC1931
NGC1931, IC417
NGC1931, IC417

2014-03-30 22:00-01:00
Increasing high clouds, no wind or moon, 6 degrees C
2014-03-31 22:30-00:30
High clouds followed by mostly clear, no wind or moon, 2 degrees C

M36+M38+NGC1931
Exposures:
30x480s LIGHT
25x480s DARKS
200 BIAS
40 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800
Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight, Photoshop

IC342

IC342

2014-03-29 21:00-01:30
Clear, no wind or moon, 2 degrees C

IC342
Exposures:
3x300s+9x480s+16x600s LIGHT
20x600s DARKS
200 BIAS
40 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800
Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight, Photoshop

SKYWATCHER ESPRIT 80ED FIXED

M44
M44

After a lot of fiddling with lenses  and stray light I have finally made the adjustments necessary to reduce the diffraction spikes that have plagued the photos taken with my SkyWatcher Esprit 80ED refractor. By first removing the dew shield, a soft cloth glued around the lens chamber is revealed. Under the cloth, there are six screws around the lens chamber at one end and another six around the other. By unscrewing each of these an equal amount (about one full turn) using a hex wrench, the diffraction spikes seem to have vanished! However, when temperature goes far below 0 degrees C, they seem to be more visible again so my plan for the next winter is to unscrew the screws a bit more (if I dare 🙂 ).

M95, M96, M105

M95, M96, M105
M95, M96, M105
M95, M96, M105 cropped
M95, M96, M105 cropped

2014-03-24 21:30-02:00
Scattered clouds, moist, no wind or moon, 0 degrees C

M95+M96+M105
Exposures:
27x300s LIGHT
20x300s DARKS
200 BIAS
40 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO400, ISO800 (mainly), ISO1600
Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight, Photoshop

M44

M44
M44
M44 cropped
M44 cropped

2014-03-24 21:30-02:00
Scattered clouds, moist, no wind or moon, 0 degrees C

M44
Exposures:
3x180s+3x300s+2x600s LIGHT
20x300s DARK
200 BIAS
40 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO400, ISO800 (mainly), ISO1600
Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight, Photoshop

M35, NGC 2158, IC 2157, NGC 2129

M 35, NGC 2158, IC 2157, NGC 2129
M35, NGC 2158, IC 2157, NGC 2129
M35, NGC2158 cropped
M35, NGC2158 cropped

2014-03-12 21:30-00:00
Very clear, no wind, half moon high up, 1 degrees C

M35
Exposures:
42x180s LIGHT
20x180s DARK
20 BIAS
20 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO400
Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight

M34

M34
M34
M34 cropped
M34 cropped

2014-03-11 20:30-23:00
Some high clouds, no wind, half moon high up, 1 degrees C

M34
Exposures:
40x180s LIGHT
20x180s DARK
20 BIAS
20 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO400
Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight

NGC869, NGC884

NGC869, NGC884
NGC869, NGC884
NGC869, NGC884 cropped
NGC869, NGC884 cropped

2014-03-09 20:30-23:30
Some fog, wind, half moon high up, 5 degrees C

NGC 869/884
Exposures:
20x180s LIGHT
30x120s LIGHT
20x180s DARK
20 BIAS
20 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO400
Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight

SKY-WATCHER ESPRIT 80ED FIRST LIGHT

M42
M42 region

The weather this winter has been awful. However, I managed a first test with my new Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED (80mm f/5) triplet refractor telescope on Monday 17th of February. Very satisfied with the ease of use and sharp picture quality, at least compared to my vintage Meade 2080 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Not so satisfied with the quality of the stars. The six diffraction spikes from each star suggested pinched optics. After this first test I have loosened he tight lens construction of the telescope and a brief test suggests much improvement in the photographic quality of the stars. Waiting for the next clear night to show the results. In the meantime, this first light image have to suffice (quite OK, particularly considering the city arena lights being switched on fully below the object and a rising moon…)

M42

M42
M42
M42, M43 cropped
M42, M43 cropped

2014-02-17 20:30-23:30
Mostly clear, some wind, rising moon, -1 degrees C

M42
Exposures:
20x180s LIGHT
10x120s LIGHT
20x60s LIGHT
20x30s LIGHT
20x180s DARK
20 BIAS
20 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO400
Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight

NGC7023

NGC7023
NGC7023

2013-11-25 19:00-20:00
Clear, no wind, no moon, 0 degrees C

NGC7023
Exposures:
60x240s LIGHT
30x240s DARK
20 BIAS
20 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO1600
Lens: Meade Model 2080 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain + Meade Focalreducer 6.3
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight

NGC7331

NGC7331
NGC7331

2013-11-24 20:00-23:00
Very clear, hard wind, 0 degrees C

NGC7331
Exposures:
41x240s LIGHT
30x240s DARK
20 BIAS
10 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO1600
Lens: Meade Model 2080 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain + Meade Focalreducer 6.3
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight

IC5146

IC5146
IC5146

2013-11-05 21:00-23:00
Very moist, intermittent clouds followed by cloudy weather, 3 degrees C

IC5146
Exposures:
15x240s LIGHT
9x240s DARK
20 BIAS
10 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO1600
Lens: Meade Model 2080 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain + Meade Focalreducer 6.3
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight

NGC6946

NGC6946
NGC6946

2013-10-12 21:00-01:30
Clear, half moon at the horizon, some wind, 7 degrees C

NGC6946
Exposures:
45x240s LIGHT
27x240s DARK
20 BIAS
20 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO1600
Lens: Meade Model 2080 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain + Meade Focalreducer 6.3
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight