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.