my dslr imaging set-up

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My Portable DSLR Imaging Set-Up Darrell Dodge, Denver Astronomical Society

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My Portable DSLR Imaging Set-Up

Darrell Dodge, Denver Astronomical Society

Set-up at Bryce Canyon National Park

Using C11 SCT as main imaging scope. Note two batteries (135 Amp-hr marine battery for computer; 22 Amp-hr battery for CGE mount)

Equipment List

• Camera: Canon XSi (450D) Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera

• Mount: Celestron CGE Go-To

• Imaging Scopes: AstroTech AT8IN f/4 8-inch imaging Newtonian AstroTech AT72ED f/6 77mm Refractor Celestron C11 Schmidt-Cassesgrain

• Guidescopes: AT72ED 72mm; 50mm modified finder

• Autoguiding: Orion Starshoot Autoguider (SSAG)

Software & Misc • SOFTWARE

– PHD autoguiding software – Stark Labs

– Nebulosity 2.5 (capture; preprocessing) - Stark Labs

– Photoshop CS5 (processing)

– Microsoft Publisher – Color Printing

• Averatec 3200 laptop (circa 2004)

• DSUSB Camera Interface – Shoestring Astronomy

• Batinov focusing masks by Spike-A and Far Point

• Baader Multipurpose Coma Corrector (MPCC)

• Astronomik clip-in filters (CLS, H-alpha, sulphur2, OIII)

Camera – Canon XSi (450D) DSLR Modified by Gary Honis to remove Infrared (IR) blocker and replace with milder Baader UV/IR Cut Filter

Low-profile optical train for SCT

Adapter allows easy adjustment of camera orientation

Scope for Nebulae & Large Galaxies AstroTech AT8IN f/4 8-inch Imaging Newtonian

Small Telescope/Autoguider AstroTech AT72ED f/6 72mm refractor

Small Autoguiding Scope Modified AstroTech 50mm Finder, with Antares 1 ¼-inch twist adapter, Orion SSAG

Complete Imaging Set-up AT8IN used as imager, with AT72ED as autoguider.

Move camera to refractor and autoguider to 50mm guidescope for wide angle imaging.

Work Station configuration

CGE Cable Jungle (camera cables on top layer)

Camera Lens Configuration 200mm Yashica Lens with adapter.

50mm guidescope used for autoguiding.

Laptop Computer and Cables/Interface Nebulosity on screen. DSUSB interface allows computer control of DSLR exposures.

Focusing through Bahtinov mask. Star image on right still needs slight adjustment for perfect focus (move center line to left several pixels)

Acquisition: Single sub-exposure of M33 360-sec – acquired from DSLR (thru AT8IN) by Nebulosity with DSUSB interface.

Pre-Processing: Stacked sub-exposures Twelve 360-sec sub-exposures taken over two nights (note overlap).

Processing: Nebulosity 2.5 background & color adjustments Note slight vignetting at corners and gradient around object; lack of color saturation and sharpness

Initial levels and curves in Photoshop CS5

Core and major feature definition; Gradient XTerminator

“Final” Processing in CS5 Final curves and sharpening to bring out star clusters and HII regions, color noise reduction, high pass filtering*

*(Tony Hallas, Astronomy, June 2011)