Date: 01.23.2011 (last quarter moon)
Location: San Bruno, CA
Telescope: Stellarvue SVR 90T with Televue x0.8 reducer on Takahashi NJP-Z Mount
Camera: Qhy9 CCD with Astronomik HAlpha 12nm Filter
This is a stacking of 11 exposures of 8minutes. Even with the short focal ration (f/d 5.6) obtained with the televue reducer, I had to apply 2×2 Binning and take a fair amount of exposure to get details in the Nebula.
The H-Alpha filter does wonder to combat light pollution, even though the FWHM of this filter is not very narrow (12 nanometers).
To capture this picture, I used the software Logme in to monitor the imaging session from the comfort of my living room…
Configuration:
- Imaging setting outside, connected to my Toshiba Netbook, accessing the Network from a Wireless connexion. The Netbook controls the Qhy9 camera, the Orion autoguider, and the Takahashi NJP-Z mount (Ascom driver).
- My Laptop, in the living room, allowing remote access to the Netbook using the LogmeIn software.
With long imaging session, getting remote access allows me to check if nothing goes wrong [ issue with tracking, clouds, etc] – without having to check every 20 minutes outside!
Here is a screenshot of the log me in screen with remote access to the Netbook controlling the imaging set up:
Astrophotography in Urban Environment 