Widefield of Andromeda


Here is an image in which I combined a recent M31 from Chiefland (taken with the 80mm EON) from this past weekend and blended it to an image I took with a Nikon 180mm ED lens. 
Imaged October 2, 2011 and October 23, 24 and 25, 2014
Imaged from Ocala, FL and Chiefland, Florida
Nikon 180mm ED at f/4 and Orion 80mm EON
Imaging cameras: Canon T1i (Hap Griffin modified) and QSI 683 wsg-8
Losmandy G-11 with Gemini II German equatorial mount
Processed in Photoshop CS5
Registar used to combine galaxies from the two different imaging scales.

M42 the Orion nebula


M42 the Orion nebula
Imaged from Chiefland Star Party Group Field in Chiefland, Florida. This was imaged October 23, 24 and 25, 2014
M42 is a reflection and emission nebula located around 1,344 light years distant in the Orion constellation
Imaging telescope Orion 80mm EON focal length of 480mm 
Imaging camera QSI 683 wsg-8
Losmandy G-11 with Gemini II German equatorial mount

M31 the Andromeda galaxy


I finally was able to make it to dark skies of Chiefland, Florida.  I quickly found that the only way to image galaxies is from dark skies.  Here is M31, the Andromeda galaxy, a Spiral galaxy  around 2.5 million light years distant located in the constellation Andromeda.
Imaged October 23,24 and 25 from Chiefland Star Party Group Field, Chiefland, Florida
Imaging telescope:  Orion 80mm EON with a focal length of 480mm
Imaging camera:  QSI 683wsg-8
Losmandy G11 with Gemini 2 German equatorial mount

For Sale Astro-Tech 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien with Moonlight High Resolution Stepper Motor focuser


For sale is an Astro-Tech 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien with Moonlight High Resolution Stepper Motor focuser in excellent condition. I am the only owner and user of this scope and focuser. I have owned this scope from February 2012 to the present and was used primarily for AstroPhotography. This scope is in excellent condition with no scratches on the body. The mirror has no blemishes other than the expected dust on the surface.

Specs from the Astronomics web site:
* 1625mm focal length
* 8 inch f/8 true Ritchey-Chretien hyperbolic mirror optical design
* 0.57 arc sec resolution
* low thermal expansion quartz primary and secondary mirrors
* 99% reflectivity non-tarnishing dielectric mirror coatings
* High strength/low thermal expansion carbon fiber optical tube
* ten contrast-enhancing main tube knife edge light baffles
* two dovetail rails, one Vixen-style and one Losmandy-style "D-plate".

Included with the sale:
*2" extension ring
*Two 1" extension rings
*Moonlight focuser with High Resolution Stepper Motor CS model flange, 1.15" travel brass compression ring drawtube.

***NOTE*** You will need buy the motor controller if planning to use for automation.


Asking $1500.00.  Will ship CONUS only. Prefer PayPal.  The AT8RC optical tube will ship in the original box. Please email me with any questions.

IC 5067



IC 5067 is an HII emission, and part of the Pelican nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. IC 5067 is around 1,800 light years from Earth.
Imaging telescope: Astro-Tech 8 inch Ritchey-Chretien telescope
Imaging camera: QSI 683wsg-8
Ha data 3 hours
SII and OIII data 2 hours and 20 minutes each filter.
PS CS5

Losmandy G11 with Gemini II German equatorial mount.


Wide field of Helix nebula


Widefield of Helix nebula in Aquarius
This was imaged using the 80mm Orion EON and the Astro-Tech 8" Ritchey-Chretien with a focal length of 1625mm (f/8).
RGB 6min subs totaling 3 hours (1 hour each channel) using the Orion 80mm EON.
Ha 20min subs totaling 1 hour and 20 minutes.
OIII 20 min subs totaling 2 hours using the Astro-Tech 8" Ritchey-Chretien with a focal length of 1625mm (f/8)
Imaging camera:  QSI 683 wsg-8
Losmandy G11 Gemini II German equatorial mount
Imaging telescopes:  Orion 80mm EON and Astro-Tech 8" Ritchey-Chretien.
Processing software:  DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop CS5 and RegiStar