One Fullerton Lunar Eclipse

Have you experienced a full Lunar Eclipse before?
In this short video, you will learn more about this event and how it happens.

Taking a break from imaging

Astrophotography has been a fun thing to do, taking images that are so far away yet to be captured in images is a fascinating thing to do.
Sadly, the cost of imaging has bottled neck my personal expenses which i had tried to capped at $10,000 which will unlikely be possible.
My plans for the next few years will be so pack that i doubt i will have serious time to enjoy imaging, so... I sold my GM8, and on the way back to a visual observer.
Hopefully in a couple of years time, i can relive the pleasure again.

Trying out with CS5 on mac

Did some testing on the CS5 mac. The core is unmasked.

Cloudy Season

It has been about 2 months since I have taken a break from imaging in Astronomy.
The usual cloudy rainy season that occurs end of the year never fails to replenish our reservoir with water and cool weather for us to sleep in. haha

Now that i have sold off my DSLR, i am going to do some planetary observations as might not be getting a CCD so soon. But I am definately getting it ready by April and then, will resume on my monthly astro trips lol

Different exposures of Orion

I posted in Singastro about how different exposures will show stuffs that are "hidden" to the eye.

15 secs

30 secs

1 min

5 mins

10 mins

Gamma cygni region (Punggai)

Retaken M31 with cooled EOS500D/FSQ85EDX

So far quite ok with this picture but kept feeling that it can be improved.
Taken in Punggai, Malaysia sept/oct 2011

Orion Nebula with the Running Man

Finally got my chance to capture this famous target for all astrophotographer
The Orion Nebula M42

Stretched Darks from 500D

Remus helped to stretch the darks and revealed the difference.
After stretching them, can really see alot of differences.

Punggai next week!

Whee! Finally next week we are proceeding to Punggai.
This trip will consist of more than 50 people participating. Big group!
Hopefully the skies will be kind to us as I intend to capture at least 3-4 targets!
Stay tuned for more updates of the trip :)

Testing on noise control for DSLR

Recently thanks to Kelvin for giving me his cooler box, my DSLR has been pimped! lol
The cooler box is a peltier cooler that gives about 13 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature.
I took 2 darks to compare the noise. Both are taken in the same conditons only cooled or uncooled.
Notice how "colourful" the uncooled image is.

Cooler box

Sadr Gamma Cygni region

Conjunction of The Moon, Jupiter and the crane

Photos assisted by Remus for Processing

Thanks to Remus for helping me with processing these photos as my skills are still very raw lol.
These are the fruits

Why Astronomy???

Do you know? Out of so many hobbies that is available out there, why does someone like me being so obsessed with astronomy? I believe that no one will ever find out the truth why is there existence of humans on Earth.
And why is earth in the sweet spot that will harbour life.
And our short lifespan of 65 to 85 years of living, how did we contribute to earth and did we make full use of our time alive doing the things that we wanted to do? Or be a puppet that lives day by day counting how much paper they have made but never even get a chance to really enjoy his life.
After having tried several hobbies, i can say that i have finally found something that i really like and can continue to enjoy for the years to come.
Astronomy not only brings enjoyment to oneself but also it brought lots of interests to the people near us... Our families and friends all got to know more about the planets that is surrounding us and star birth and death thru our sharing with them.
I can clearly remember each and everyone's expression when i showed them the moon's surface in close views. The rings of Saturn and moons of Jupiter.
With current technology, anyone and everyone can enjoy the natural shows that is available above us.
I am glad to be living my dream of doing astronomy and also, astrophotography.

Reprocessed Milky way

M8 M20

Took this data from Mersing on my FSQ85 and modified EOS T1i with a CLS clip on filter.
Overall results not too bad as i can see improvements!!!! haha
Can be better next time

Its not about yourself

Astronomy is a hobby, some a profession. For me this is something i wish to do since a long time...
With modern technology, i am able to learn faster on how to use the equipments.
Guess we should be glad we are living in this era where humans are no longer just using their brains... But this induce stupidity as well as we slowly rely on robotics and electronics to replace human works...

Venturing into astrophotography

Getting into this hobby is not simple. A couple of months ago I started spending more time, in fact, lots of my time on astronomy. From Visual to Astrophotography, it was indeed not just so simple as pointing the camera and shooting the skies. The data capturing was ok, the challenging part is to process the pictures and acquire a satisfactory "end product".
I got a couple of files online and intending to borrow a book on Photoshop for Astronomy.
Hopefully after reading them I can at least have a better understanding about how to proper process my data...

Back to Mersing for the 3rd time

We are going back to Mersing this end July and this time round we are going for a 4 days 3 nights trip.
With 3 full nights of data capturing, I'm sure we will be able to put some night astro objects into our frames.
This time round it will be first light for my FSQ85ED and also a 2nd hand EOS500D Badder IR/UV modified DSLR.
I am aiming to capture at least 6 targets this trip and if possible 9 depending on the skie conditions.

Stay tuned for more updates

Elton

Back to Mersing!

Last weekend we revisited Mersing for the 2nd time and was treated to 2 full nights of darkness under the starry skies.
These are the photos taken

A New astro spot (well not so old for old birds lol)

On the 3rd June 2011 Friday, a group of 4 set off to Mersing for our Astrophotography needs.

We were greeted by the massive jam on Fri at 3pm and eventually was stuck till 430pm before finally able to proceed with our journey to north.

Its a nice place with nice blue skies, facing the South China Sea.

We are going again in July!

If you are keen in joining us next month please feel free to email me at 

eltonkkng@gmail.com 

for more details

New laptop Asus K43SV

Got this new cool laptop to embark on my astrophotography!
There are so much to learn omg....
First i got the scope i needed, a Takahashi FS60CB,
with it came along a QHY5 CMOs guider and a mini Borg 50mm for Guiding use.
Then i bought a Losmandy GM8 with digital drive then came along all the power cords and AC adapter.
Its tiring but a fun process to learn new things like how to use the mount etc...

And at current i am putting all my energy into learning how the various programs works. Been reading and reading, from online and from books.
Hopefully this mersing trip which i'm going next weekend will be fruitful!

Looking to take at least some useful data.
Well, this marks the beginning of my Astrophotography hobby!

Stay tuned for results! lol

Kahang next week.

Hopefully the skies will be kind enough for me next week to take images of the milky way.
Last 2 astro trips were badly cover with high clouds and seeing was very short.
My vixen VMC200L is officially on a change of command to Jayesh! lol
He will definately enjoy the view this 8" Cat can offer.
Bright nebulas, detailed planets and not forgetting to mention, the start clusters.
Omega Centauri is definately stunning and it covers the whole FOV on my 24mm Badder lol

Losmandy GM8

I have decided on getting this mount no matter what lol
Initially was deciding the NEQ6PRO which looks like this:

Then I decided to get his GDP2 instead, too bad vixen didn't got back...

After which saw this one CN, Losmandy GM8:

Moon photos...

Got some nice photos taken with my mini Tak lol

New toys

Takahashi FS60
My 1st Tak

Join this Facebook Group - Singapore Astronomy Group

Most of the expeditions are reflected there in this link below:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Singapore-Astronomy-Group-SAG/201883659836820

Join us and click "like" to join.
You can see most of the trip photos there.

New gears, Tak FS60

This is my dry box with the Tak FS60 lol

Messier Night at Kahang, West Malaysia 1st April to 3rd April

Hoo Hoo!!! Time to set off to Kahang on Fri! Its a dark site where is complete darkness!
Will update photos when i'm back.
Been busy with some stuffs lately so hadn't been committed to post on my blog.

I've gotten a Netbook and Toucam Pro II, Objective is to take a clear combined shot of Saturn with full details, and time to move on to DSLR Astrophotography.

This hobby has a very steep learning curve. One wrong move and you will end up losing abit of money. lol
So decisions sometimes are hard on me to choose what equipment.

Changing my windows panel to slide type

After consideration, i decided to change my room's window to the slide type.
After changing i will have an unobstructed view of southwest to a little northwest! lol

How I got into astronomy

For more than a few decades, I have been always taken a liking into astronomy. The mysteries of life existing on earth, the vastness of the universe, it leaves one little to think that we are the only one living in this universe.
While i was very young, I got this book from my grandpa, "life"
Though i couldn't understand a single word in the book, the pictures in the book was enough to make my eyes glued to it.
Pictures of Stella birth, our solar system, our very own star which we call the Sun, and galaxies, colorful  images of nebulas were all wow to me.
Whenever i'm in a library (which i seldom visit lol) i would always zoom in to the science corner where there are books on astronomy.
Until about 12 years ago, i got my first telescope. Its supposed to be a toy scope from tasco.
I didn't know how to use it at all and pointed randomly at the moon.
The views is stunning! I can see craters and different ridges on it.
But the interest was short lived. Soon after i forgotten about the hobby and got on with other interests lol
My passion for astro didn;t die off just that it was kept in a corner of my heart.

Until recently, i decided to get a scope and learn more about the cosmos. I bought a beginners' scope from a local guy, an orion starblast 4.5 with an EQ3.
Pointed at jupiter and i saw the moons! Faintly i could see the storm band on the surface of jupiter. Its a gas giant and from so far away, i could see details. not too bad! lol

Ichi backside again

Should i get my GEM first?
Toto!!!! please let me kana so i can buy all the things i need!

Saturn!

First AP on Saturn!

New parts picked up today

Due to an incomplete system i have.
Today i called JB and ask if he has the WO CF 2" Dieletric Diagonal.
He replied and said he have the better version, the durabright ones.
Immediately i ask for the price and zoomed down to collect it.


These are the high quality carbon fibers diagonal from William Optics

And this is the Planetsphere i bought while i was in Washington Space Center in year 2000 during the International Fleet Review conducted by Bill Clinton.

Astro Tech Voyager Mount (New Toy)

After my haircut today for heng heng Chinese New Year,
I called up Tim from Mc Gill and picked up the Modified Astro Tech voyager Mount.
The new name is call Mc Gill Marvel Mount but its basically the same as the Astro Tech version.


It came with a Half Pier and eyepiece tray.
These are the pictures after assembly.

I have also gotten this Celestron Vibration suppression Pads as well.