Weasner's Meade ETX Guest Gallery

GUEST LUNAR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Last updated: 9 March 2009

Many ETX users have sent examples of their astrophotography. If you have some examples you would like included here please send me a description of how you made the astrophotos and a copy of the images as GIF or JPEG files (due to internet email gateway issues, please send only one image file per message). Send to etx@me.com. Alternatively, if you have created your own web page with your examples please let me know and I'll include a link to your site.

Submitted by: Steve Hollar (sjhollar@dslextreme.com) [9 Mar 09]
The Moon was big and bright last night. In fact, it was the first clear night we've had in several weeks. I decided to try this Moon tour. I would have thought the images would be washed out, but, I did some experimenting and tweaking of Meade Envisage and got these photos. I was pleased with the clarity and detail that was pulled out. I used my ETX-125PE, Alt/Az mount, Meade LPI with a dark lunar filter, and Envisage. Also, I can not stress enough how much easier it is to get a good focus using an electric focuser. I use the JMI.

Submitted by: Maurice Collins (mauricejscollins@hotmail.com) [9 Mar 09]
Last night I used my three and a half inch ETX-90 and LPI to get some images of the Moon. Here is the resulting mosaic. Seeing was about A-III or better with some passing clouds. I had to go back out and setup again as I had not imaged the extreme south pole well enough for my liking. So the imaging extended from 0715 to 0917 UT with a gap around 0740 to 0847 UT where I was inside checking what I got. All in all I am fairly happy with the resulting image. Hope you will consider it for you website.
Click image for full size version
Submitted by: Nohr Tillman (ntillm01@yahoo.com) [6 Mar 09]
Clear and cold (14 deg F) nights here in the Mid-West USA, so I've been taking advantage of it: ETX-125 with 64-T and one tube at rear port, polar aligned Pentax MX with SD-11 Focus Screen (designed for astrophotography) Kodak 200 Print Film processed and scanned at local retail store No mirror lock-up required (tried both on same night) 1/60 second exposure 47% Illuminated Moon ALT 53 AZ 259

Submitted by: Steve Hollar (sjhollar@dslextreme.com) [3 Feb 09]
Here are two photos I took last night using the 125PE and LPI for the moon shots. I was able to get a much focus now that I am using the JMI Electric Focuser. Getting a good calibration as mentioned in my other email certainly made a huge difference too. They were all taken in Alt/Az alignment.

Submitted by: Mark Mathosian (mmathosian007@comcast.net) [21 Jan 09]
Here is a moon shot from this morning (19 January). ETX90 with a 32mm lens attached to a Sony 7 meg. camera.

The moon from this morning (20 January). Photographed through an ETX90 with a 32mm lens and Sony 7 mg digital camera. Tweaked a bit in PhotoShop.

Submitted by: Jurgen Beisser (jubeis@web.de) [15 Jan 09]
having owned my ETX-90 EC for several years already, I never used it for DSLR astrophotography. Last Saturday, January 10, 2009, however, I was keen to take some pictures of the bright perigee full moon. The ETX was set up in equatorial mode in order to have a smooth tracking. For connecting my EOS 350D (Astro), I utilized the standard Meade adapter. The moon just fitted into the field of view at f=1250 mm. Exposure was 1/250 sec at ISO 200, single exposure at 22:13 UT with timer TC-80N3 and camera mirror lockup enabled. The photo required some processing work but I think it was worth the effort.
Click image for full-size version
Submitted by: Maurice Collins (mauricejscollins@hotmail.com) [9 Jan 09]
Last night I quickly imaged the Moon before clouds rolled in just after sunset. I used my ETX-90/RA as I wasn't sure if it was going to stay clear long enough to get out my 8" SCT (I was right). So this is the first imaging I have done with my ETX-90 in about 6 months and I thought you might like it for your website. The image was taken with a Meade LPI imager, and the mosaic was done using autostitch with final processing done in Photoshop.

Submitted by: Bill VanOrden (beevo@cox.net) [9 Jan 09]
http://www.calsky.com/?Transitline=& obs=76977091848766&tdt=2454839.72525032&sat=25544&interval=0.00011574&step=0.00000231&mainbody=10 Several of us are going to try for it. I was close the last time Look at the very right edge of the view. One of my over excited young spectators kicked a tripod at the last minute, and no time to try to reposition.

Submitted by: John Farrant (johnfarrant@gmail.com) [6 Jan 09]
I am sending my first moon shot around Mare Nectaris from last night. Cloudy night here in Alicante but there some breaks around 19.30 UT. Shot through my ETX 125 with a modified Meade Microscope Camera (cmos 2.0 mp). Single frame - some post processing with Astrostack. Thanks for looking.