The Setup
Equipment
The tools of the trade — telescopes, cameras, and software used to capture these images over 15 years.
🔭 Telescopes & Accessories
- Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 with Hardened Foam Insulation
- Telescope: Celestron CPC 800 (8" SCT f/10) #11073-XLT
- Telescope: Orion EON 80mm ED Apochromatic Refractor
- Dovetail: Losmandy 8" Dovetail plate (VSCT13 & VCB8) & 125mm I.D Rings
- Counterweight: Losmandy complete system with 1×5 lb + 2×2.5 lb weights
- Wedge: Celestron Heavy Duty Wedge #93655
- Barlows: TeleVue 5x PowerMate, Orion Shorty-Plus 2x
- Reducer: Celestron f/6.3 SCT Reducer/Corrector
- Dew Shield: Orion FlexiShield 8"
- Power: Celestron Power Tank-17 #18777
📷 Cameras & Filters
- CCD: QHY-8 (Q453HR) — Deep sky imaging
- Planetary: Celestron Skyris 236M — High-speed planetary
- Lunar/Planetary: The Imaging Source DMK21AU04.AS
- Solar System: Celestron NexImage CCD (legacy)
- Filter: 2" Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 Light Pollution Suppression
- Filter Wheel: Orion Multiple-Filter Wheel 1.25"
- Filter Set: 1.25" LRGB Astrophotography Filter Set
- Solar Filter: Thousand Oaks Black Polymer 8"
💻 Software
- Capture: MaxIm DL/DSLR 5.02, IC Capture AS 2.0
- Stacking: RegiStax 5, AviStack 1.74
- Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS3, AstraImage 3.0 SI
- Deconvolution: SBIG CCDSharp 1.14
- Guiding: PHD Guiding 1.9.1
- Plugins: Noise Ninja 2.1.2, GradientXterminator 1.1.3
- Planetarium: Starry Night Pro Plus 6.2.3
Gallery
The Setup
🏆 Featured In
- TVO Channel (Canadian Television): Big Ideas: Best Lecturer — March 29, 2010
- SpaceWeather.com — August 1, 2009
- Celestron 2010 Astrophotography Booklet