Astronomical League

AstroRVing

Capturing light in the dark on the road

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About Me

I started this journey in early 2020 with a homemade barn door tracker, manually adusting it every 10 secs for the rotation of the earth. I then built an intervalometer to control my camera. From there, I bought a SkyWatcher Star Adventurer Tracker, a guide camera and scope, then a SkyWatcher EQ6-R Pro mount, a William Optics Zenithstar 81 telescope .... etc. Click here see the full list of my current equpipment.

Latest Acquisition

ic1805

Logo 234x60

Horsehead Nebula IC 434

November 15, 2021
Location: Fort Myers, Florida

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro, Gain: 120, Offset: 0
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 60, Darks: 45, Flats: 50
  • Exposure: 180 secs x 60 exposures = total 3 hours
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, N.I.N.A., PHD2, APP, PS, StarNet++
  • Bortle Class: 8
  • Moon Phase:
IC434

Heart Nebula IC 1805

November 10, 2021
Location: Fort Myers, Florida

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro, Gain: 120, Offset: 0
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 60, Darks: 45, Flats: 50
  • Exposure: 120 secs x 60 exposures = total 2 hours
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, N.I.N.A., PHD2, PS, StarNet++
  • Bortle Class: 8
  • Moon Phase:
IC1805

Elephants Trunk Region IC 1396

September 25th, 2021
Location: Nashville, Tennesee

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro, Gain: 120, Offset: 0
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 50, Darks: 40, Flats: 50
  • Exposure: 180 secs x 50 exposures = total 2 hours 30 mins
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, N.I.N.A., PHD2, PixInsight, PS, StarXTerminator
  • Bortle Class: 6
  • Moon Phase:
IC1396

Sadr Star Nubulosity Region IC 1318

September 7, 2021
Location: Ellison Bay, Wisconsin

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro, Gain: 120, Offset: 0
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 3, Darks: 40, Flats: 50
  • Exposure: 180 secs x 3 exposures = total 9 mins
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, N.I.N.A., PHD2, PixInsight, PS, StarXTerminator
  • Bortle Class: 3
  • Moon Phase:
NGC1848

Soul Nebula NGC 1848

September 1, 2021
Location: Mackinaw City, Michigan

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro, Gain: 120, Offset: 0
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 20, Darks: 40, Flats: 50
  • Exposure: 240 secs x 20 exposures = total 1 hour 20 mins
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, N.I.N.A., PHD2, SiriL, PS, StarNet++
  • Bortle Class: 3
  • Moon Phase:
NGC1848

Pacman Nebula NGC 281

September 1, 2021
Location: Mackinaw City, Michigan

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro, Gain: 120, Offset: 0
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 28, Darks: 40, Flats: 50
  • Exposure: 240 secs x 28 exposures = total 1 hour 52 mins
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, N.I.N.A., PHD2, SiriL, PS, StarNet++
  • Bortle Class: 3
  • Moon Phase:
NGC281

Wizard Nebula NGC 7380

August 19, 2021
Location: Putnam, Ontario, Canada

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 15
  • Darks: 45
  • Gain: 120, Offset: 10, Temp: -10C
  • Exposure: 180 secs x 15 exposures = total 45 mins
  • Software: N.I.N.A., PHD2, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 4
  • Moon Phase:
NGC7380

Dumbbell Nebula

August 14, 2021
Location: Putnam, Ontario, Canada

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance Light Pollution
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 15
  • Darks: 45
  • Gain: 120, Offset: 10, Temp: -10C
  • Exposure: 180 secs x 15 exposures = total 45 mins
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, NINA, PHD2, Cartes du Ciel, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 4
  • Moon Phase:
IC1848

IC 1848 Soul Nebula

August 14, 2021
Location: Putnam, Ontario, Canada

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance Light Pollution
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 20
  • Darks: 45
  • Gain: 120, Offset: 10, Temp: -10C
  • Exposure: 180 secs x 20 exposures = total 1 hour
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, NINA, PHD2, Cartes du Ciel, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 4
  • Moon Phase:
IC1848

IC 5070 Pelican Nebula

August 2, 2021
Location: Holley, New York

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance Light Pollution
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 20
  • Darks: 25
  • Gain: 120, Offset: 0, Temp: -10C
  • Exposure: 180 secs x 20 exposures = total 1 hour
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, Stellarium, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 4
  • Moon Phase:
IC5070

NGC 281 Pacman Nebula

July 23, 2021
Location: Alexandria Bay, New York

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance Light Pollution
  • Camera: Nikon D610
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 15
  • Darks: 5
  • ISO: 800
  • Exposure: 180 secs x 15 exposures = total 45 mins
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, Cartes du Ciel, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 4
NGC281

NGC 7000 North American Nebula

July 14, 2021
Location: South Hero, Vermont

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance Light Pollution
  • Camera: Nikon D610
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 22
  • Darks: 5
  • ISO: 800
  • Exposure: 240 secs x 22 exposures = total 1 hour and 28 mins
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, Cartes du Ciel, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 4
NGC7000

NGC 7000 North American Nebula

July 6, 2021
Location: Trenton, Maine

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Flattener: FLAT 6AIII .80 @ 447mm
  • Filter: Optolong L-eNhance Light Pollution
  • Camera: Nikon D610
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 12
  • Darks: 5
  • ISO: 800
  • Exposure: 120 secs x 12 exposures = total 24 mins
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, Cartes du Ciel, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 3
NGC7000

M81 Bodes Galaxy

June, 2021
Location: Scarborough, Maine

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: William Optics Zenithstar 81
  • Focal Length: 559mm
  • Camera: Nikon D610
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: WO f/4 50mm
  • Lights: 30
  • Exposure: 120 secs
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, Cartes du Ciel, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 3
Bodes Galaxy

M81 Bodes Galaxy

May, 2021

Location: Scarborough, Maine

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: Nikon 200-500mm Lens @ 400mm
  • Camera: Nikon D610
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: ZWO f/4 30mm
  • Lights: 30
  • Exposure: 120 secs
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, Cartes du Ciel, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 3
Bodes Galaxy

M42 Orion Nebula

March 04, 2021

Location: Fort Myers, Florida

  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Optics: Nikon 200-500mm Lens @ 400mm
  • Camera: Nikon D610
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: ZWO f/4 30mm
  • Lights: 30
  • Exposure: 120 secs
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, Cartes du Ciel, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 3
Bodes Galaxy

M31 Andromeda Galaxy

October 17, 2020

Location: Blue Ridge, Georgia

  • Mount: Skywatcher Adventurer
  • Optics: Nikon 200-500mm Lens @ 500mm
  • Camera: Nikon D610
  • Guide Camera: ZWO 120mm Mini
  • Guide Scope: ZWO f/4 30mm
  • Lights:
  • ISO3200 62 @ 30 secs
  • ISO6400 15 @ 30 secs
  • Software: SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, DSS, PS
  • Bortle Class: 4
Andromeda Galaxy
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