It is interesting to explore the possibilities of some common devices such as digicams and binoculars. I have been reprocessing some old stuff from March. I took 474 single exposures of M42 in Orion through the binoculars with my Exilim digicam. Using a stacking software, all these subframes may become aligned and added accurately, resulting into a 4 minutes long exposure single shot with a perfect star-tracking. I reckon I didn’t use any kind of equatorial mount or motorized tracking. Just an steady tripod. Orion belt passed accros the field of view of the binoculars 3 times. In every gap, I corrected manually the FOV to get M42 inside it as longest as possible.
Archive for Vixen 12×80
M42 with point & shoot digicam
Posted in Astrophotography with tags afocal, Astronomy, Binocular, Casio Exilim EX-Z80, digicam, M42, no tracking, Orion, point & shoot, shift-and-add, Vixen 12x80 on 2009/08/26 by computerphysicslab4.6 days lunation Moon
Posted in Astrophotography with tags 9Mpx, afocal, Astronomy, Binocular, Casio Exilim EX-FS10, Mare Nectaris, Mare Tranquillitatis, Moon, Registax, shift-and-add, terminator, Vixen 12x80 on 2009/04/29 by computerphysicslabTonight the Moon is crescent, and high in altitude. It is a good opportunity to record our natural satellite. Terminator is almost reaching Mare Serenitatis. Mare Nectaris (actually a gulf of Mare Tranquillitatis) is now fully illuminated and its Western border walls are clearly visible.
Tonight’s Moon
Posted in Astrophotography with tags 9Mpx, afocal, Binocular, Casio Exilim EX-FS10, Moon, Registax, shift-and-add, Vixen 12x80 on 2009/04/28 by computerphysicslabHere we have a 3.5 days lunation Moon. Mare Crisium is completely illuminated and some fine details may be seen, like small Swift crater (5 kms diameter). The image was a sum (Registax 5) of 10 subframes at 9Mpx using the Casio Exilim EX-FS10 and Vixen 12×80 binocular.
Waxing Gibbous Moon
Posted in Astrophotography with tags afocal, Binocular, Casio Exilim EX-Z80, Gibbous, Moon, Nebulosity 2, no tracking, Paint Shop Pro, phase, Registax, shift-and-add, Vixen 12x80 on 2009/04/08 by computerphysicslabYesterday’s Moon in phase waxing gibbous as seen through the Vixen 12×80 binocular, here it is. Registax 5 stacked 55 individual frames of 8 Mpx each. Nebulosity 2 was used to compensate the sideral movement and perform the de-rotation. Sharpening with Paint Shop Pro.
Silberschlag casts two shadows
Posted in Astrophotography with tags afocal, Astronomy, Binocular, Casio Exilim EX-Z80, Mare Tranquillitatis, Moon, shift-and-add, terminator, Vixen 12x80 on 2009/04/03 by computerphysicslabSilberschlag is a small Moon crater near Mare Tranquillitatis. What is my surprise when I observe that this crater shadow is proper of two peaks instead of a crater rim. Watch the picture and think about it. Is that normal?
55 frames stacked in Registax
Posted in Astrophotography with tags afocal, Binocular, Casio Exilim EX-Z80, Moon, Registax, Vixen 12x80 on 2009/04/02 by computerphysicslabAfter stacking 55 frames of yesterday’s Crescent Moon, forcing a bit the saturation, and sharpening using the finest wavelet available, I am proud to introduce this Moon picture:
Foggy Crescent Moon
Posted in Astrophotography with tags afocal, Binocular, Casio Exilim EX-Z80, Crescent, Moon, Vixen 12x80 on 2009/03/31 by computerphysicslabYesterday’s moon was a bit foggy in my location. Nevertheless I got an image that I am very proud of, because it is the first time I obtain a nearly perfect focus thanks to the binocular focus tip. When doing afocal exposures, you may get a sharp focus using another binocular over the lens. This way you guarantee an infinite precise focus for the camera.
This image was taken as usual, through Vixen 12×80 binoculars and with the Casio Exilim EX-Z80 pocket digital camera. I used only green channel data, because it was the sharpest.