AstroKam v4 is now available from the link at right. The main change is that you can now edit your automatic capture plans in-programme before you capture.
The Image Sort module can also now handle Canon .CR2 and .CRW raw files.
Another shot of M37 taken with a Canon A810 and Nexstar 4SE (alt-az). Stacked in DeepSkyStacker and processed in Star Tools.
AstroKam was used in a 2 hour capture session using my Canon A810 mounted on my Nexstar 4SE in alt-az mode.
I used AstroKam’s new Sort routine to pick out the best captures which were stacked in DeepSkyStacker. Star Tools then brought out the details and colors to produce this image. Pretty good for a £50 camera?
Below are the first trial overnight auto-survey images using AstroKam to control my Canon A810 and Nexstar alt-az mount. Still getting the hang of things but I am pretty pleased considering the camera only cost £50. Click on each detail image to see the original widefield shot. All images stacked in DeepSkyStacker and processed in Star Tools. Note that these images were taken using just the camera lens – no telescope was involved.
M45 Detail
Comet Ison 2013-11-5
Here is my latest capture using AstroKam with my Canon A810 looking thru the eyepiece of my Nexstar 4SE in alt-az mode. Stacking in Deep Sky Stacker and processing in Star Tools.
The sky was patchy so I only got 11x 10s lights, 2 darks and 2 biases.
I had to close down the forum and foto sharing site because of a possible security breach and constant spam attacks.
The Yahoo user group has therefore been reborn and is available here
This is a movie I made with my £50 Canon A810 hooked up to my Nexstar 4SE. Best viewed in full screen.
I have been trying out my £50 Canon A810 camera for astro work. An early trial was to connect it to my Nexstar 4SE scope with a Skywatcher digiscoping bracket and the results were pretty good.
Here is a sample and you can see more of the image by clicking on it.
We had a good discussion on my old Yahoo user group about how to remove Netwon’s Rings from your h-alpha setups. I have condensed the results of our discussion here to help others with this problem.
Newton’s rings are caused by interference arising from internal reflections in your imaging train and look like this.
Newton’s Rings
User Robert suggested that the rings could be eliminated by slightly tilting the camera. I came up with a simple design sketch like so.
Users Robert, Mike and Jack then built test versions which seem to work very well. Jack’s version was used to re-image the above view to give this which is a dramatic improvement.
Newton’s Rings Eliminated by Dave’s Tiltometer
Robert and Jack produced pdf info and foto sheets for their tiltometers which are here.
Mike uploaded a range of fotos of his version and results which are here.
Our forum now supports TapaTalk which opens up all its features to iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry and Chrome mobile users.