Thanks for the notification. I have a very cool photo on my blog which is the latest post currently.

I have problem taking Jupiter, as you can see it through the Jupiter shot from my blog. It seems that astrophotography is a lot different than the terrestial photography. What is the software you use to control ToUcam Pro II?

I'll check the pass-by of ISS through www.skyandtelescope.com later.

Saw ur blog MR.LKM. Nice photos of the Moon. Really closeup and you definetly need a telescope for that. My prosumer Cam would need a humongous Telephoto lens to reach that zomm if ever it was available.
The Supernova pic looked like a pic of the moon taken thru a cloud....But you already noted that in your blog. The clouds DO look like gasses from the supernova.

You noted that you mounted your telescope on a grassy surface. Did you set up your Meade in your garden? I was wondering should I take a drive thru the Kluang Rest House on a starry night and suddenly see you there since that is such a good vantage point for stargazing...

This post has been edited by julchin_09: Jul 8 2006, 11:00 PM

Mr. LKM, when I saw your Supernova, I grabbed my binoculars and ran outside to look for it before reading the rest of your blog!!! Aiyah, so realistic......

julchin_09, no, the telescope is not mine.....

Haha, looks like my post is good enough for cheating purpose. When I back from dinner, I just suddenly realised this "supernova".

Yup, julchin, I setup my Meade in my garden. I will always welcome anyone who wants to take "many" looks of the sky.

March05, what is the software you use for toucam pro II to take photos? What are the sites you read the most?

Ya lah, I was so taken in I did not stop to think. Sometimes supernovas die down very fast so I just rushed out to see it.......

For the ToUCam, I just use the Philips VRecord software that came with the webcam.

My favorite site is of course, spaceweather.com. By now you can see most of my `announcements' come from there! Only very rarely am I able to find something before they publish it. I like to see the photos sent in by their readers. Hopefully one day one of us can also have our masterpiece shown there.....

supernova huh~~ i also got some pic, eh first time post here plis dun mind ar i still learning how to shoot

Just wan to share with u all. i using E500+40-150mm
Date:10/07/06 Time: 9:5x pm
#1 Supernova??
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/Wildpiew/P7101194.jpg

#2
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/Wildpiew/P7101182.jpg

#3a (very small huh~ )
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/Wildpiew/P7101191.jpg

#3b (Resize the canvas into 640x480 only n PS reduced some blue colour)
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/Wil...ecanvasonly.jpg
(dun worry this time no chinese text)

pic removed to save the bandwidth sorry first time post here dunno the rules.

This post has been edited by WildPiew: Jul 13 2006, 11:15 AM

WildPiew, nice work!

Ok guys, I forgot to post my own Moon photo...

Here is the link: http://www.astronomynotes.net/index.php/20...trophotography/

I don't want to direct post here in order to save the bandwidth.

It is quite quiet these days huh? I have taken my photo together with my telescope.

http://www.astronomynotes.net/index.php/20...8-lx90-with-me/

By the way, I finally success in taking Jupiter! I am just not satisfied with the blue tone of the photo.

Cool Photos bud,

Now I know which house to Rob liao.... hahah

With his Meade, he can spot you coming from 3 kilometers away! The polis will be waiting for you lah.


Congrats, Mr.LKM. Your Jupiter shots are spot on for the LPI. I think the bluish tone is caused by slight underexposure - I get that most of the time too. But I don't mind because the highlight details are more important. If you overexpose, the planet looks more color balanced but washed out, and I feel that's worse. Jupiter has such a wide contrast and color range that it is quite challenging to find the best compromise in midtones.

For more details, you can try using a 2x/3x barlow. Some ppl even go for a 5x barlow. But that's a bit too much for the LPI's sensitivity with your 8" SCT, especially now that Jupiter is no longer at opposition.

Haha, come come. But don't rob me. Rob the god Jupiter instead.

So it is the right tone? I prefer to take the Jupiter in monochrome, it looks much more better in details, don't you think so? I don't have a barlow lens though. I have a full set of eyepieces. I think it's time to sell part of them and get a barlow, what do you think? It's quite hard to sell them in Malaysia though.

It's so quite these days.

I am wondering whether getting a EOS20Da is better or a Deep Sky Imager Pro II.

I heard that a DSLR is even better than the low to mid range CCD imager. Only the one which costs 3k to 6k USD really do their works.

Wah..Richkid.

Anyway, thats a good camera and the price has dropped below RM5K by now since the 30D has been released. Nikon D70S and Canon 350D also worth the look plus its much less.......

I am not sure about the EOS20Da. I heard that Canon has stopped the production. I can't make sure though.

I have done writing a new article just now.
Pros and Cons Of Astrophotography

This post has been edited by Mr.LKM: Aug 3 2006, 09:37 PM

Nice piece of work there, Mr.LKM. Looking forward to your next article.

Do you mean advantages of CCD imaging?

Well, I only just managed to read your article on monochrome CCDs.

Maybe a bit too Meade orientated (could be annoying to Celestron fans lah)......how about something on the USD 2 Billion Hubble Space Telescope? I think it also uses a monochrome CCD......maybe cheapskate NASA couldn't afford a colour CCD. j/k.

Anyway, you nailed it on the advantages of the CCD imager over the DSLR. But Canon seems to be making a big push towards using their equipment for Astrophotography, so tomorrow (or the near future) the story may change.

I also find that I am too Meade orientated these days. However, since I have been active in Cloudynights.com from this week, I know much more about the equipments.

In fact, monochrome ccd is much more expensive. monochrome ccd can be equipped with filters to take colours. Let's take Meade DSI II Pro as an example, you can take the photos using the 4 filters and then merge them. Then, it will be a coloured version. However, this is quite incovenience though. Monochrome has higher sensitivity too. Opps, I talked too much about my next next article.

I am currently working on the Perseid meteor shower.

Are you one of the producers for this yearly event?

Wah. OUr budding astronomer really started from young. Im abolutely lost as to the technical jargons being discussed here. The only few I'd understand might be related to Digicameras thats all....