Our astronomical society has star parties once or twice a year there at the visitor center. Dark skies there are ok, but the Valley of Fire is much better. Too much light pollution from the Strip for any good images, but it is great for EAA (Electronically Assisted Astronomy) We sometimes have up to 700 people show up at our star parties. Great viewing with fascinating lectures by the astronomers. RFB

Hi Marc, By all means you can see if this would come out better than what I did. All I ask is that you tell me the workflow and what software you used. I tried to send the stacked image, but the file was too big. RFB

A real knockout!!! Beats mine a few days ago all hollow. Good job!

I saw this image in Stellarium and thought this would be a great image to capture, but no, it was just too faint to obtain a good image. I took 45 images at 5 minutes per image on an eight inch RC telescope. I used a CEM 40 mount with the ASIAIR Plus doing all the heavy lifting. I was impressed because the guiding was about .25 pixels! I found a new attachment point for the guide scope. I threw away the ST-4 cable and tied the guide scope camera, a ZWO 120 MC, directly the the ASIAIR red box. Great guiding, but the image was not that good. I stacked 45 images in Deep Sky Stacker and post-processed them in Gimp. I really stink at this, too! Well, I tried, but I was extremely satisfied with the way the mount performed. The area I was in was a Bortle 3 sky. The location was about 50 miles Southwest of Las Vegas nestled in a valley surrounded by ridges. Really isolated here! I will return there, soon. Anyone who wants to go along, PM me. Always like company. Well to the image itself. Please have mercy. RFB

(Download)

Wow! Another home run. I don't think my 8 inch RC can resolve this galaxy. It is absolutely a great image. something that I can try to achieve with my 8 inch, or at least, try to get it. I'm going to try getting Y CAS nebula next to the star Navi. If it comes out, I will post it, if not, well..... RFB

Wow, Ballard, you hit a bases full home run with this image. I could only try with my setup to get this high quality image. Good Show!!!

Ballard, I counted 21 galaxies, but I think you got more there than this. RFB

Go to the ZWO file and download their free TIF file reader and other files in their package. Look in the manuals and software window to find it. RFB

I went and researched this tube. The mount is an Altitude Azimuth mount with a go-to feature. At 400 mm focal length, it is good for nebulae and some larger galaxies like Andromeda, however, being an Alt Az mount, it is not too suitable for astrophotography for exposures over 1 minute and any extended multiple exposures since this mount does not rotate to the earth's movement like a German equatorial mount. You may also need to get a field flattener to get the stars at the field's edge in sharp focus instead of streaks. My two Pence worth.
Additionally, the scope has a diagonal mirror that flips out of the way for quick pictures, but no info on back focus. RFB

Unfortunately, you did not describe the type of telescope. Refractors will handle what you describe, but a reflector may pose some issues on astrophotography. A simple Newtonian may have issues with back focusing meaning the image will not focus in the camera. what is needed ids to do some research on back focus to see if you need to extend the camera further from the the main mirror using extender tubes or , in my case, I repositioned the main mirror closed to the diagonal, not the choice to do. I have an RC telescope and I use a two inch extender rings to move the camera further away from the primary/secondary mirror assembly for the correct back focus. Everything needs to be checked with your scope. What I tried with a friend of mine's 127mm refractor was to hold my camera without a lens and looked through the viewfinder of went to looking at the live view function on the camera display. By moving the camera back and forth in the telescope's field of view, you may be able to see if the target will focus. My friend's scope focused about two inched from the focus tube so we can use his scope with EAA. Hope this dribble works for you. RFB

Hi Ballard, Great shots of the Fireworks Galaxy. Unfortunately, my little 8 inch RC could not do this justice as you have. I do have a question: why did you use 2 x 2 binning? Is it only for file size or trying to reduce the star bloating in the Milky Way stars?

Living in Las Vegas, one becomes use to the scenery surrounding us. So many places to visit that shows the beauty of the desert, the fauns and flora contained within. Glad you like my home town. RFB

The Mourning Wall

The sun spills its light and warmth
On that cold, black granite wall,
To shed its stillness of fog shrouded mists.
To be drawn to it, to scan the heroes,
But I have turned away,
But I have turned away.

That mourning wall I have tried to view
To see names of my comrades I once knew
I have tried three times to visit them,
To commune with these, my fallen friends,
But I have turned away.
But I have turned away.

I tried to see but my nerve did falter
To stand in awe at this hallowed altar
To give honor to my brothers-at-arms
While I still live,
But I have turned away.
But I have turned away.

For I cannot face that black granite wall
With names etched into the cold stone.
Friends and strangers but to share
Only I cannot be there to stare.
But I have turned away.
But I have turned away.

I have tried to see, but my eyes grow damp,
I cannot gaze through the mist of tears,
I am saddened at the sight of the black block,
All that is left of my brothers in arms.
But I have turned away.
But I have turned away.

When at last I will go to see
I do not know when the time will be
I will seek out my friends, those on the wall
Who will always live in Heaven’s halls,
Of their family and friends and all
To see, and then,
I will not turn away,
I will not turn away.

I believe this aircraft is a Cobra attack helicopter first flown in Vietnam. Notice that the Apache has engine nacelles on the side of the main body whereas the Cobra's engines are contained within the body. My Two Cents.

your shots of M 31 and M 42 with the Running Man are pretty good. What did you use to get then?