Saturday, February 28, 2015

Puerto Rico Radio-Telescope Arecibo Observatory

There are photos from my trip to Puerto Rico. Arecibo Observatory is one of the famous radio observatories in the world. I still remember photos of the radio telescope in astronomical books which I saw when I was young.

Arecibo Radio Telescope - Puerto Rico
The Receiver of  the Arecibo Radio Telescope
Flowers and Arecibo Radio Telescope
Anatomy of the Arecibo Radio Telescope
Arecibo Observatory Logo
Galaxy Shop
Arecibo Observatory visitor center
Angel Ramos Foundation Visitor Center inside
Observatory Visitor Center inside
Star planetarium
Milky Way Model
Poster
Observatory Flags
Arecibo observatory and Angel Ramos Foundation Visitor Center
Telescope

Arecibo Telescope

Sunday, February 1, 2015

M42 Orion Nebula using iOptron SkyTracker in NYC

This is my first test of iOptron SkyTracker. Orion Nebula M42 is in the list of top 10 deep sky objects for amateur astronomers. So I choose it for first test. I tried exposer 15 seconds. For fixed tripod with Canon Telephoto Lens EF 200mm f2.8 L II USM it gives star trails. With iOptron SkyTracker even without precise alignment stars looks like points. Weather was good but NYC light pollution, plus it was 3 / 4 Moon near Orion nebula. So I use small ISO (Urban astrophotography). There are results:

M42 Orion Nebula one single file from NY City

Canon 60Da, Canon  EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens, Exposure 15 sec; f/2.8; ISO 320, New York City

Using DeepSkyStacker stacked multiple images. Every Canon Row CR2 image first updated in Canon Row 7 saved as Tiff file and later stacked in DeepSkyStacker. Post processing after that was done in Photoshop.


Orion Nebula M42 from New York City Backyard - 8 photos iOptron SkyTracker Canon 60Da
Canon 60Da, Canon  EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens;  f/2.8; ISO 320; Exposure 15sec x 8 - Total time 2 min, New York City

M42 Orion Nebula NYC 36 photos iOptron SkyTracker Canon 60da Canon 200mm
Canon 60Da, Canon  EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens;  f/2.8; ISO 320; Exposure 15sec x 36 - Total time 9 min, New York City, Messier 42 or NGC 1976

iOptron SkyTracker Canon 60Da Orion Nebula M42 Astrophotography 204 photos
 Canon 60Da, Canon  EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens;  f/2.8; ISO 320; Exposure 15sec x 204 - Total 51 min