M3

I was not going to give up on the chance of was last imaging run before we move and be without a working observatory over the summer months.

A few outside lights left on by my soon to be ex neighbour caused a few issues so I reduced the ISO to 400 and let off a few 5 minute exposures. This image was a total of 1 hour 20 minutes with a DDP stretch and star spikes. I am quite pleased with result despite the fact it is not the perect focus I have achieved before.

Last Light

Sad news fellow bloggers from Saham Observatory. Last light from my observatory maybe anyday now. For four years I have viewed the heavens from what is a reasonable, dark sky. Equipment has performed almost flawlessly giving me some wonderful images I have posted here. But alas all good things come to an end.

Now for some good news. We have a new house, bigger than the last one for our expanding family. and a better view of the southern sky from which to observe. No more trying to observe Orion from behind our roof. No more searching for a cosmic clouds of smoke, but  instead imaging smoke from the neighbours wood burner at two in the morning.

So it is back to the drawing board for me to come up with a new design for the new Hills Observatory. Bigger better, and for heavens sake Malcolm remember the the difference between external wall and internal wall measurements!!!!!!!

So a moving date of the first of june is on the cards. Whether I can get something built before the winter is another thing.

I will keep you all posted as to progress and will be sure to have a detailed photo blog to see the progress throughout construction.

M84 & M86

This was the last of the imaging runs last friday. I wanted to feature markarians chain. A slight error on my part was to angle the camera in the wrong orientation thus imaged only part of the chain. I was still amazed at this composite of 57 x 2 minute exposures at ISO 800. I have managed to capture 35+ galaxies down to mag 16 the deepest yet for me and the 90mm refractor. If you can spot any more let me know!!!

Earthshine

The same image as below this time with a 1/2 second exposure to capture the earthshine. I didn't want to go to overboard with the exposure.

The Moon

mThursday the 7th April saw the first of a few good but rare nights. To set up the camera and achieve a good focus I saw this bright thing in the sky and took a few pics. Iso 200 @ 1/25 The best of the buch I think.

The cosmic shiner

The last few nights has seen some lovely clear skies, despite light pollution from the local town of Watton approx 3 miles away and  a 30% illuminated moon. I thought I would have a go at M64 The Blackeye Galaxy


This cosmic punchbag of a galaxy has taken a recent pounding well about a billion years ago as experts believe, a small galaxy collision has left its mark. Messier added it to his collection despite it's discovery a year earlier. Resting a mere 24 million light years away. This is a combination of 1 hour 40 minutes of exposures @ ISO 1600. A final crop just show the bruise.