MadMan's Astronomy and Astrophotography Pages - Photos of the Week
Photos of The Week - May, 2016

ASI174MM and DayStar Quark Mercury Transit, ASI174MM Saturn and Mars images,
ASI224MC ISS attempt, Hutech modified Canon 6D wide-field imaging.   Just more playing
around both at home in Canton, GA and on vacation in St. George Island, FL
ISS imaging attempt - ASI 224MC - F20
This one didn't come out very well.  Only 48 frames captured.  I did align a strong laser to
the scope and manually guided the big C11 on a CGEM DX mount trying the capture.  It
felt like an anti-aircraft gun but it seemed to have better success than using SatTrack, which
I have only gotten to work once in about 200 tries!  If I had had some help, I might have
been able to adjust the exposure, which was (again) too high.  I also believe the rolling
shutter on the 224MC is not appropriate for ISS imaging and will try the 174MM.
Solar Imaging and Mercury Transit - ZWO ASI174MM - DayStar Quark

Recent captures and processing using these two fine instruments and the Tak FSQ-106EDXiii.  Resultant focal length with the Quark's built in
Barlow of 4.2x = FL 2226mm
Mercury Transit - Still image (left),
GIF animation - 3 frames (right)
Wide-Field Milky Way Imaging - Hutech Modified Canon 6D

Image Left:  iso 1600, exp=30s, f2.8, 14 mm lens
Image Right: iso 10000, exp 30s, f2.8, 14mm lens
Single frame captures from two time-lapse videos done at St. George Island - 5/1-5/8/16
Used Vixen Polarie for one and just a tripod for the other.  Simple processing to stretch in PS4.  Needless to say, I am VERY pleased with this
camera and its sensitivity!  Below each still image is a link to a YouTube timelapse video.  Hope you like them.
Planetary Imaging - Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - ZWO ASI174MM

All done using eyepiece projection technique with the ASI174MM, Celestron C11 Edge HD and a Baader 8-24mm zoom EP.  Effective focal
length varied but most accomplished at approximate F30-40.  My current imaging position makes Mars and Saturn difficult targets for me due to
southern row of trees.  It means both planets have to be imaged low and early on the horizon.  Jupiter, however, can be imaged at the Meridian,
and subject to much less atmospheric interference.