Full moon imaging

Yesterday was not a successful day, clouds blocked visibility at southern Finland. So no photographs then... Next possibility for full moon is on 6th August 2009.

Here's my last image of full moon at 9th May 2009. Moon is distorted by mirage effect (different temperatures at air layers). This I consider my best image of full moon.

In couple of weeks I should get some detailed explanation of this mirage effect, and some comments what I heard - it was not so typical to see distorted moon at relatively high altitudes like in this case. When I have feedback, I'll get back to this...

I made also a composite image, to clear out how moon shape was distorted. It was interesting to follow...

Saturn imaging (12th April 2009)

One image from the archives... I shot Saturn -at Vesanto in central Finland- with my C8 OTA & 2x Barlow lens. Used camera type was Philips SPC900NC. I had a lot of interference lines visible in stacked image. Periodic noise was needed to be removed with IRIS, postprocessing was done at Photoshop CS2.

Unsuccessfull moon imaging

This time I did not had a good luck... According to yellow almanac, full moon today was rising at 23:23 (in Helsinki region). I checked skies, but too much clouds on distant horizon to see the moon. I am going to attempt photography of "low moon" again, at 7th July 2009.

PC equipment updates

Since I will update my HEQ-5 mount to GoTo-option, I need a RS232 -serial connection to laptop. I have a already a USB-to-serial converter, but it only has a one serial port. So I have ordered DeLock PCMCIA -adapter card, providing 4 COM-ports. This would allow to connect a mount itself and two focusers -> one port would be still free.

Installation was pretty straightforward: plug in the card, select manually suitable drivers for win XP and final testing of card. To control panel, four COM -ports were added:

HEQ5 mount Goto-kit

This I have put into order, from Telescope service. Estimated delivery would be approximately two weeks.

Main reason why a bought this, that in addition to planet photography I want to attempt autoguided exposures with Nikon D200 plus a short telelens -combination. I know there are many challenges in this world to come... Guider camera needs to be purchased also. Most propably I change my planetary camera to a certain monocrome model, from Imaging Source products. These models are also suitable for guiding cameras.

Equipment updates

Time to update my HEQ5 -mount... I was frustrated - especially in winter- when I hurt my fingers with original fixing screws on mount saddle (Vixen type). The separation is so small that it does not allow free thumbscrew rotation, without touching sharp surface of another screw.

So I have placed an order to ADM accessories, from their "D" -series:
-saddle adapter (EQG-SAD)
-two dovetail plates for C8 (DC8)
-dovetail plate adapter for camera head (DPA)

Planet imaging - focusing methods

Couple of weeks ago I got my Bahtinov mask. It was laser-cut from approx 3mm thick black plastic sheet (thanks goes to Lauri K).


Purpose of this is to aid focusing, that can be pretty tricky sometimes. Mask is placed in front of C8 corrector cell. Then scope is pointed to bright star. Mask creates a visible diffraction pattern. Image on the webcam is followed, and focusing adjusted at the same time. When "line in the middle" crosses the intersection of "X-figure", focusing is correct. I was really suprised how simple and effective this tool is...