The Great Orion Nebula (M42) is probably the most popular and brightest target nebula in the Northern hemisphere for astrophotographers.
Click the picture for a larger version, then hit Back when done.
This image taken with my LX-modded SPC900NC on my C6-SGT XLT scope on EQ5 mount is far superior than I have taken of M42 in [...] Read more »
Here is my first attempt at imaging M31 The Andromeda Galaxy. At first glimpse you might think its a good picture, but I’m not actually that happy with it.
Click the picture for a larger version, then hit Back when done.
Being a first try, I suppose it’s not too bad, but there are a couple of [...] Read more »
Many times I have tried to view the Flame Nebula by eye with my Orion XT10i Dobsonian, but without success (I keep thinking “It must be there, surely I should be able to see it!?”).
In professional photographs The Flame looks reasonably bright when compared to very faint nebula like the Horsehead, and it doesn’t look [...] Read more »
The Crab Nebula (M1/NGC1952) is found in the constellation Taurus. It is a supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula observed by John Bevis in 1731 which corresponds to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese and Arab astronomers in 1054. The Crab is located at a distance of about 6,500 light-years from Earth, and the nebula [...] Read more »
Here is an image of NGC-869 that I took using my SC1 modded SPC900NC webcam using LX-mode.
The Double Cluster is comprised of a pair of open or galactic star clusters, a lovely starfield in the northern constellation of Perseus. They are an easy binocular target, and once you know their position they are also readily [...] Read more »
The following photo of Jupiter is one I took at the Kelling Heath Star Party on 24th September 2011 aligning/stacking about 1000 frames at 5ps (320×240), using my SPC900NC in video mode on my C6-SGT XLT SCT telescope tracking on CG-EQ5 mount, and post-processed with Registax.
I had also tried using K3CCDTools with this footage, but [...] Read more »
I have a Philips SPC900NC PC webcam that I use for astrophotography with my Celestron C6-SGT XLT SCT Goto telescope. I have modified it with the Steve Chambers LX (Long Exposure) mod and wanted to try out a fairly good easy starting target to experiment on its capabilities.
Pleiades seemed to be a good choice, but [...] Read more »
Just recently I got the following email asking me my thoughts on whether to choose a Skyquest XT8i or the XT10i….
Hi, I have had a look at your website which is very informative. I recently sold my skywatcher explorer 200mm f/8 telescope as I do wish to purchase the orion skyquest xt10i. Although not a [...] Read more »
This is the first observing session with my Celestron C6-SGT Go-To scope for a very long time. I brought my scope along on our short camping break at Marsh Farm caravan site, Saxmundham in Suffolk, and tonight the damp weather has abated, and the forecast predicted a very cold spell coming in from the North.
Quite [...] Read more »
After my experimental “first light” imaging session with my newly modified Phillips SPC900NC webcam for Long Exposures (Steve Chambers mod), I have now processed the images and this is what they look like. They’re not visually fantastic, but for a first attempt I’m well pleased. Generally they were 15-20 second exposures. They couldn’t be any [...] Read more »
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