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Valarie and I have been avid amateur astronomers since 1996. I have taught astronomy
and helped develop an observatory at the Delta Rehabilitation facility in
Snohomish, Washington and you can
read all about that
here. I am also the content editor for
Astromart, which is
like EBAY for astronomy gear. Northwest weather makes astro-imaging pretty tough but I do manage to get out once in a while. I currently use both a dedicated astronomical CCD camera from Santa Barbara Instruments Group and a Nikon D90. Here are just a few of my keepers... |
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I caught Saturn just off the limb of the moon using a 1.3 megapixel digital camera and an 80mm achromat. |
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I took this CCD image of the Whirlpool galaxy from my back deck in Woodinville. |
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Edited together digital camera shots from a couple of years ago of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn. |
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Just for laughs, I thought I'd teach the Hubble a thing or two :-) |
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The Horsehead Nebula: Takahashi Sky 90 and ST-7E for 30 minutes total exposure time. |
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The Sombrero galaxy taken in Arizona using an ST-5 and a Takahashi FS102. |
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This is an ST-5 grab of M51, also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy, taken with the FS102 on the same trip. |
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Well, at least I was looking through the right end of it. A genuine 1958 Gilbert I got for Christmas that year. |
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OK, so its not astronomical, it's still pretty cool :-) I took this shot off the Maui coast. My answer to "Do you believe in alien life?" is, "Sure, grab a mask, a snorkel, and a $10 deposable camera and follow me." |
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My best lunar shot ever. Using a Meade LX200 10" and a 2.1 megapixel digital camera. This shot took second place one year in the SCT users group imaging contest run by Rod Mollise. A highwater mark for this imager. |
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First imaging light for my Sky 90 using my ST-7E. 12 exposures of 20 seconds each, taken on 1/22/01 using a Sky Patrol-II mount. This is of M42, the Orion Nebula. |
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The great spiral galaxy M101. I managed to capture a satellite skewering this beauty right through the heart. This was a 20 minute exposure, taken in Arizona using an ST-7 camera and a Takahashi FS102 scope. |
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My niece, Madeline's, delightful rendition of the solar system complete with comets and inhabitants done when she was 6. This image is color reversed to bring out the details. |
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Here's a picture of the Sky 90 mentioned above, perched on my EM-10 mount. The Sky 90 has since been replaced by a beautiful William Optics Zenithstar 105. |
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A seagull slips past the waxing moon. Taken from the bow of the Anacortes bound ferry using a Nikon Coolpix 5700. I just framed the moon and waited for a circling gull to pass by. I love that ferry ride to and from Friday Harbor. |
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My niece Emily lives in Northern Arizona and drew this picture for me. Only in rural Arizona would children routinely include the Milky Way in their drawings of the sky. |
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We live on Moon Meadow Lane and here's why :-) Nikon D90 |
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Our little craft barn under the starry sky with a lucky meteorite passing by. Nikon D90 in 2 exposures - one for the stars and one for the porch. |
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The big gal, Herself. D90 and a 105mm Triplet (William Optics) |
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Omega Centauri, taken on a trip to Arizona with my old Sky 90 and an ST-7. You can almost HEAR this monster, it's so amazing. |
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Our big neighbor, M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. Taken through my 105mm triplet using an ST-8. Just a single 2 minute exposure. |
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A bit of fun with M31. I discovered a simple trick to unmask an "Alien" peering out of our neighboring galaxy. The image explains what I mean. |
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My deep space imaging system: A William Optics Zenithstar 105mm refractor telescope, a Takahashi EM-10 german equatorial mount, a Santa Barbara Instruments Group ST-8 CCD camera and an old XP based PC with a flat screen monitor - all on a wheeled cart so I can roll it out under the stars. |
