I started taking pictures through my telescope shortly after starting to work for a digital imaging company because I had ready access to lots of cool cameras. Gradually I got my telescope control systems in better shape and my techniques got a little better and sometimes I manage to get a nice shot or two.

I use a ten inch Newtonian reflector that started out as a Meade Starfinder but I have made so many modifications and additions that it really is not a Meade anymore. I use several types of CCD cameras, thanks to my job and my great bosses ( thanks Darryl, Haseeb and Greg ! ). I'm also getting a classical Cassegrain scope into shape that used to belong to my grandpa. I plan to use the Cassegrain to image the planets and will eventually make the modifications described in the November 1998 Sky&Telescope to achieve something like F70 at prime focus ( Endemann PAT )!

See some of my photos ......

Keep in mind that the images on this page are only 8 bit gray scale images made to look pretty and the actual images are in excess of  300KB and some are 2.5MB while the mosaic images can be over 20MB! You don't want to download that so I made JPEG's and tweaked the image to bring out some details but remember that the original files have much much more detail. Unless otherwise noted all images are from my 10" F4.5 Meade Equatorial Starfinder taken from my backyard in the very light polluted San Francisco Bay Area. I have used cameras built around three different Sony interline transfer CCD chips ICX038DLA (768x494 pixels 1/2" format and 8 bit A/D), ICX082AL (768x494 pixels 2/3" format and 8 bit A/D) and ICX085AL ( 1300x1030 pixels 2/3" format and 12 bit A/D ). Maximum exposure times are limited to 1 minute by the tracking accuracy of my mount.

HOLY! Here is a picture of the Losmandy G-11 with double saddle plate with Parallax rotating rings 10" Newt and 90mm ETX. I've added a new chapter in mounts and modifications so follow the link for more on my G-11.

  Take note that the television is a 45" projection screen!
 

Join the RAARAAS! Roaming Amateur Astronomical Recreation And Adventure Society.

New shot of the sun  from June 5, 1999 4pm western US. This is a mosaic of eight images. I'm having trouble getting all the bits to match thus the outline showing the seams. Solar imaging is pretty danged tough because the light level is high and extended over a wide area. The scope was the Meade ETX with a camera at prime focus with a Sony ICX082AL sensor. Exposure time was 200 milliseconds.

Orion Nebula mosaic and a single frame of Orion  with a Sony ICX082 sensor based camera.

Saturn
 
 

Jupiter

The Whirlpool Galaxy ( M51 ) was my first galactic subject. I took this picture while at Sea Ranch.
 
 
 

Some new photos from October 1, 1999 of Jupiter and Saturn. I used my 10" F4.5 Meade Starfinder with an 8mm Televue Plossl in eyepiece projection for a final resolution of 0.45"/pixel.

I've started adding a higher level of organization to my ever increasing volume of images. Images are now collected into groups by the type of object.