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Small Scope Images

SMALL SCOPE IMAGES


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Hello everyone ! My name is Tony Boucher ! Welcome to my astro-site ! This is a place to view astrophotos including Messier objects ,comets,eclipses,some other lunar,planetary , and deep sky objects taken with a small scope and a few accessories right from within the city. The scopes used are 3" refractor and 8" or 11" schmidt cassegrain f10 systems with focal reducers used for most photos to reduce exposure time. The cameras used are a 35 mm single lens reflex ,the Taurus AstrophotoSystem , an SBIG ST5C ccd camera or an MX7c ccd camera and various 35mm films with wide range of speeds. .The film speeds used vary greatly depending on the sky and brightness of the subject.The exposure times are pretty much controlled by the same factors although during the winter the subzero temperatures will have some bearing on exposure lengths! .There are also images taken with an SBIG ST5C and Starlight Xpress MX7c ccd cameras to show the incredible ability of ccd imaging from within the city! In some cases the objects imaged with the CCD cameras were acquired using the "Advance Astro Master" from Celestron International .The "Astro Master" is a set of digital setting circles with encoders on both axis of the telescope that aid greatly in acquiring target objects!. A recent addition of a Celestron Edge HD 11" on a CGEM DX mount . a Celestron F.7 reducer , a Hyperstar lens for F2 wide field views of the cosmos , an ST 8300C one shot color camera from Sbig and a Sony 10.1 megapixel DSLR has increased the diversity of the equipment greatly. Film photography has pretty much gone the way of the dinosaurs but still does have it's place in some situations such as lunar elclipses . The increased sensetitvity of the newer ccd chips makes it difficult to image really bright objects like the moon so don't toss that old 35mm just yet at least not until you acquire a newer DSLR which can actually do a great job om these objects as well .

Astronomy is a great hobby, its peaceful and serene but not without a few surprises once in a while. One time when I was twenty or so minutes into an exposure of the Lagoon Nebula I was rudely interrupted by one of our little furry friends with a white streak down its back! I mean as I was guiding the exposure he put his two front paws on my right knee and with his nose raised way up in the air was sniffing to beat the band.The only thing that moved on me was my eyeballs! I couldn`t believe he got that close without me knowing it ! I mean they do have a way of announcing themselves usually.Ironically I ended up with the best photo I have ever taken of the nebula with film . !
Anyway I just thought I`d share these images with anyone who would like to see them. They do show in many respects the increased capability of amateur equipment over the years . Who knows? They might stir something in someone that could put them in touch with a terrific hobby that has an endless supply of subjects . With just a pair of binnoculars there are hundreds of things that are easy to see if you just know where to look ! A good feeling accompanies each and every acquisition regardless of what it is and finding them again gets easier and easier each time out !

If anyone has any comments or suggestions or if I can do anything to help someone I would be glad to here from them. I can be reached at ....

  • I have started an equipment question and answer archive in the tables below please feel free to send me info to add or just look for answers to equipment problems with scopes ,cameras and etc....

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    Two cameras for sale !

    A Starlight Express MX7C and an Sbig ST5C


    Contact Tony Boucher .

    Secondary Rotated on Edge HD 11" and fixed !


    Galaxies
    Nebula
    Clusters
    Lunar
    Planets
    Comets

    Other Helpful Links

  • Astronomy magazine
  • Celestron
  • "Stellarium" planetarium software ...Free and excellent !!
  • Kids Asronomy.com an excellent astronomy source for kids of all ages
  • Astro Image archives "{Syzygy Research}
  • Sky & Telescope
  • Que Tal -in the Current Skies {A good source for monthly astronomical events}
  • General Astronmomy Resources
  • An Ultima site for beginners {Good starter info for astronomy enthusiast}
    A good site for videos on astronomy topics { Video Jug on astronomy}
    Skycharts free planetarium software ...excellent !
    An Orrery is a very unique item which can make an excellent gift or learning tool . A real novelty. Visit the Orrery store here !
    SkyMarvels: Your Key to the Sky and the Universe!

    Would you like to download the Seti@Home screensaver for free and help to find ET?
    Its fun and you will really help !Go to...


    Search Engine Optimization and Free Submission
                This is a fantastic FREE planetarium program by John Walker ! Well worth the download!
                                                         
  • {Tony Boucher} for suggestions or comments!
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