Here is a shot of the Crescent Nebula with the new camera. It was a single shot through a H-alpha (red) filter. There continue to be challenges during these sessions as I learn the new gear, but I was pleased to see that things continue to get better and better.

Unlike my last session, I figured out how to get the autoguider working.  The answer… use the correct cable.  This wasn’t my fault – rather the store sold me the wrong cable.  Ok – so that problem is fixed.  Still there are guiding problems that I’m not sure what to do to fix.  Maybe flexure.

The next problem related to some problems with the dark frames.  Again, I don’t know what happened, but there were artifacts all over the calibrated image. So this image isn’t using the darks.  Next time I’ll shoot a fresh batch.

Crescent Nebula by M. Nicholas - 7-2011

Shot with QSI 583, Takahashi FSQ-106N, Losmandy G11, SBIG STV guiding, etc. Diggin’ it!

Here is a shot of my new (used) Sportsmobile van for my first night shooting some astrophotography with some first-time comforts for me. It is wonderful to have something like this, but it seems a bit of a true luxury given how I have worked in such minimal conditions for so long. Now, all of a sudden, I can warm (or cool) some food, keep warm, go to sleep, and more – remarkable stuff.

Anyway, after so many years of shooting the night sky, the new gear has seemingly placed me back onto the learning curve, and the troubleshooting has been pretty frustrating. The new camera seems to generate some weird artifacts on my images and I will call the company (QSI Imaging) when I get home. This time, at least, my autoguider worked. It’s always something.

If the pics that I took are worthwhile, I’ll post it. Next trip is planned for end-of-month.

After a very long drive to Idyllwild, CA, made much longer by the traffic, I arrived at Spacecamp, a really interesting and educational facility hidden in the mountains near Palm Springs.  These are some of the nicest folks I’ve come across and they were amazingly gracious and hospitable hosts.  I set up and looked forward to a weekend of shooting.

What made this weekend all the more fun was the debut for my brand new QSI 583 astro camera, and my brand new USED FSQ 106N scope.  As I geared up to learn how to use this, my autoguider failed.  I don’t know why or how, but even when it “locked” on star it couldn’t seem to correct the scope.   I could go into more technical detail, but it might include a few curse words.

Still, after years for trying (and failing) to shoot the Pelican Nebula with my DSLR, I was finally able to capture this Pelican.  What a camera and what a scope! I don’t know how to describe the results of the use of this scope and camera – other than to say that the widefield combined with the fast f5 glass allowed me to capture this without losing the entire shot (since my guider failed), and the quality of the light was just remarkable. When it appeared I nearly fell over backwards. Here is a preliminary edit – still a bit of work to do. Now if I could only do it while guiding.

Pelican Nebula by Mark Nicholas

Well… a fellow named Paul sold me his FSQ 106N, and tonight is my lucky night.  Let’s see what this baby can catch.

“They” (meaning pretty much everyone who has looked through this scope) say that this particular scope is the kind of scope that is the last scope anyone would ever need.  It looks awesome and feels very well built.  Tonight, I see whether that translates into anything special – or not.  Here are a couple of photos of the config…

Spacecamp Vantagepoint in Idyllwild

FSQ 106N on Losmandy G11

FSQ 106N on Losmandy G11