CCD vs Film? Lots of time vs no patience? Alright, this is your place to discuss all the astrophotography what's and what's not. You can discuss about techniques, accessories, cameras, whatever....just make sure you also post some nice photos here too!
It's been an opportune moment to capture this fella (The Running Chicken, or IC2944) tonight in hydrogen alpha from the CBD, the first HA image I have done ever since moving to Melbourne. This is a 2-panel mosaic, with an intention to extend the mosaic where weather and time permits. Each panel consist of 3 sub-exposures of 20 minutes each with a 500mm f.l. refractor (totaling 2 hours). Focusing was done first time with the Bahtinov masking method!
Focusing was done first time with the Bahtinov masking method!
Yes tinker with this mask recently also, work very well on both my refractors and newtonian. Not difficult to make, like what Remus had mention, just require patience to cut those slots.
it took about 10 minutes to cut, not a big job since it is for a 3-inch refractor...but i think the cutting would be easier for bigger apertures since the slots are longer....if there is an astrophotography ingenuity award given, it has to be the Bahtinov mask, it not only works, it works CONSISTENTLY, and it is so easy and deterministic....no eye-balling, no guess work... when light spikes are orientated smack in between, it is on! I don't even have a fine focuser to work with, just little nudges until the desired star burst pattern is achieved and viola! done! forget about hartmann masks anytime! period!
Dragon Man! the mosaic wouldn't be possible without this recent run of good weather...hopefully tomorrow night is clear again for more extensions, though the forecast predicts high clouds and haze! grrr...
![[smilie=bye2.gif]](./images/smilies/bye2.gif "bye2")
![[smilie=good-job.gif]](./images/smilies/good-job.gif "good-job")
