Here's the image of the galaxy I've been working on for the past little while. NGC2683, the UFO Galaxy. Magnitude +10.64, distance: 16 million light years away. I took 20 images of this (60 second exposures), then I subtracted the noise and optical flaws, shifted the images pixel by pixel to align them, then stacked them together. It took a ton of work to get this image this good (had to play around with pixel to pixel variations in signal strength). I am now even more impressed with Hubble quality images.
Wow thats awesome! Amazing even! (Considering I can't even get decent lightening shots with wanting to rip my tongue out. @.@) You using a DSLR on a scope, or what's your layout look like sir?
Glad you like it As for my setup... prepare to be amazed, heh. It's a Meade LX200, attached to a 512x512 CCD sensor (on the near end), which captures the images and transfers them to the connected PC.
So, this rig differs from the CMOS sensor of an SLR in that it's picking up the ultraviolet versus visible? I haven't used a scope in years to forgive me for a sec and indulge me
Nope, this only picks up visible light. It's not equipped to detect any other wavelength. Like any CCD though, it takes images in the red, green, and blue filters of visible light, then combines them together to form real colours based on the signal strength of each pixel. This scope's CCD does the same thing, except you have to do it all manually (whereas cameras do it automatically after taking the picture). I'm not too certain how CMOS-based cameras function, though. The CCD here also utilizes a peltier device to keep it cool. It can reach temperatures below -50 Celcius. This is helpful in reducing bias levels (signal produced from electric currents). I took these pictures with the CCD set to -30 Celcius.
And I thought you guys were lovers?? That's a pretty bad ass pic though. Which means there could very well be life in that galaxy.
wait a minute.. where the fuck is that thing first of all, secondly... I have no secondly, where the FUCK did you put that thing? And is your house in a conservatory?
Good question. This is actually one of several university telescopes, located in one of the observatory domes. The metal dome you see in the picture can electronically rotate and the shutter can be raised using a switch. Imaging this galaxy was one of the projects for my astrophysics course.
I think you mean observatory... anyway. Nice kit.. what the hell, man? lol I've got a buddy who is into similar stuff and he's sank like 40 grand into that already. Your setup has to be at least that... For the real question... have you synchronized your telescope rotation with your dome? You're only cool in my eyes if you dont have separate controls for your dome. Edit: aha! I didnt see that there was more than on page to this post.... So its the university's. Ok, that makes more sense!