Swansea Astronomical Society Blog
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Leaving Marina Towers
The Society vacated the Marina Towers observatory this week. The Society is grateful to the members pictured here who worked so hard in clearing out the Tower ready to hand it back to the Council.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Last Night's Images
When the clouds cleared last night I thought I would grab some images of both Mars and Saturn.
Both images were taken through a Celestron 11" telescope, a DBK21 camera and a 2x barlow.
Keith Davies
Keith Davies
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Crescent Moon
This image is a stack of 4 automatic exposures using a Pentax K-x DSLR at the prime focus of a Skymax 127 Maksutov Cassegrain telescope.
Steve Wainwright
Steve Wainwright
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
New test on a Pentax K-x DSLR
Clouds prevented the capture of more than 5 images of M42/3 this evening. 
The Pentax K-x DSLR that I am testing was set to an ISO value of 12800 and 4s exposures.
It was placed at the prime focus of an f/4.8 10" Newtonian with a light pollution filter in place.
This is the result of stacking the 5 x 4s exposures:
There was no post capture noise reduction taking place, so an image was available immediately the exposure was completed. The camera will be very thoroughly tested, but is is proving to be very promising as an astronomical imager.
Steve Wainwright
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Testing a Pentax K-x DSLR
I am testing a Pentax K-x DSLR as a possible general purpose camera for astronomical imaging as well as general photography. Pentax cameras are not commonly used for astronomical imaging. However, the K-x has ISO settings up to 12800. This image was derived from 10 x 30s exposures taken through a 130mm f/5 Newtonian. The images were stacked in Registax after being reduced in size. The camera was fitted with a light-pollution filter and the lens assembly from a x2 Barlow lens.
It is looking promising.
Steve Wainwright
It is looking promising.
Steve Wainwright
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Activity on the Sun
Imaging the Sun in Ca K-line light revealed lots of activity on the Sun today.
AR1045 and AR1046 were still visible in the centre and near the western limb. However, another active region was visible in the east and may develop into another sunspot:
Steve Wainwright
AR1045 and AR1046 were still visible in the centre and near the western limb. However, another active region was visible in the east and may develop into another sunspot:
Steve Wainwright
Friday, February 12, 2010
Saturn Images
From member Keith Davies:
"After spending many hours in the freezing cold attached are the best images I could achieve due to the atmospheric turbulence. Out of the thousands of frames I took I was disappointed to find the ringing artefact throughout my Mars images. There was less on the Saturn shots so I was able to suppress them in post processing.
The two images were both taken through my 11" Celestron and DBK camera, the first was using a 2x barlow the other a 3x barlow."
Cassini-Huygens: The Men and the Mission
Many thanks to member John Birks who gave us a fascinating talk on the Cassini-Huygens mission at our Society meeting last night. Among many interesting facts, it was fascinating to see the spoke effect on Saturn's rings and the plumes on moon Enceladus. Thanks, John! :)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Assorted astrophotography
Member Keith Davies took the following images on Feb 8th 2010:
Celestron 11” DBK21 camera, 2x barlow:
Same equipment, taken 3hrs later:
Celestron 11” Atik 314E, 2x barlow:
Taken through a Nikon D700:
This morning’s Solar images. Taken through a Skywatcher 80mm refractor at prime focus and a DMK31 camera. Top right is Sunspot 1045 and I think the bottom left is 1047, it is not very clear on Spaceweather.
Sunspot 1045 through a PST, DMK31 camera and a 2x barlow.
New Sunspot 1047?
AR1045
From member Steve Wainwright, here is a blink animation of AR1045 taken today in H-alpha and Ca K-line light:
Sunday, February 7, 2010
More Mars
Member Keith Davies took the following shot of Mars from his back garden last night using a Celestron 11 inch, DBK21 and a 2x barlow. You can clearly see Syrtis Major and Utopia:
Seeing conditions weren't too good and there was a little fog in the air.
Seeing conditions weren't too good and there was a little fog in the air.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Sunspots
Member Keith Davies took the following shots of the sun this weekend:
Sunspot AR1045 through an 80mm Skywatcher refractor, DMK31 camera at prime focus:
Same combination but with a 2x barlow:
Same combination but with a 3x barlow:
Taken through a PST, DBK21 camera and a 3x barlow:
Sunspot AR1045 through an 80mm Skywatcher refractor, DMK31 camera at prime focus:
Same combination but with a 2x barlow:
Same combination but with a 3x barlow:
Taken through a PST, DBK21 camera and a 3x barlow:
Thursday, February 4, 2010
BBC website
We have a new feature appearing on the South West Wales section of the BBC website from this month.
Here is a link to February's article:
BBC article
Here is a link to February's article:
BBC article
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Mars
Member Keith Davies took this photo of Mars last Saturday night:
"Taken through my Celestron 11” telescope a 2x barlow and an Imaging Source DBK21 camera. Seeing conditions were very poor so was surprised Registax produced this final image."
Monday, February 1, 2010
Fairwood 29th Jan
A good night was held at Fairwood last Friday with 6 FOG members in attendance. Despite some cloud-dodging, we had very good views of the moon and Mars.
Here are some photos of the moon taken by Steve showing the area around the Tycho crater. See if you can spot the cat on Picture 1 and the lamb on Picture 2 (our imaginations may have been a little vivid!)
Here are some photos of the moon taken by Steve showing the area around the Tycho crater. See if you can spot the cat on Picture 1 and the lamb on Picture 2 (our imaginations may have been a little vivid!)
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