First Planetary AP Ever ! Jupiter !

Want to see what I can do from my Fremont backyard for a long time.

I got an Orion tube ring for my 10" Dob and mount it on the Mach1.

It is heavy and I have to use all 3 counterweight plus some dummy weight from Sports Authority.

I just would like to give planetary AP a try so I use my DSLR (Canon T3i) and control with BYEOS.

With the 5x LiveView video, it gives me almost 1:1 pix scale.

Not too bad from the first try !!

Did some quick and dirty process and here is the result.
A lot more to learn.

The funny part for planetary AP is you take 1hr to setup and tear down. But only get something like 2min video...

First Narrow Band CCD Experience

Acquired my CCD (SBIG STT-8300) used for a long time but didn't get chance to use it.
This is actually a new unit from AstroMart.

Setup at the evening after watching StarWar with wife...

The OAG of STT-8300 is really stupid. It shares the same USB port with the main CCD so there are a lot of problems. I hate those workaround. Some problems shows here:

I only get one 30min Ha sub and it is getting really cold (0-C).
I decided to back inside and do some adjustment on the gears.

Here is the quick process of the single-frame with 30 dark subs...
I think I like NB !! ;-)

M33 (2015/09) @ DARC

This is the first AP image that I felt happy to share. ;-)

This is also my first time do image for a whole night !

I met a few new friends from China who also live at Bay Area. They have a "secret" site where is 2 hour away. We chat on "WeChat" for a while and I decide to give that site a try.

PS: https://blackdragon72.wordpress.com/ this is one of the guy's blog. Very cool.

2hr drive is not much and the site is pretty dark.

It is very close the the D.A.R.C observatory (http://www.deepskycolors.com/locations_DARC.html) and kind of a semi-public place.

At 2015/Sept/19, I arrived at about 7pm and quickly setup the gears and meet the new friends in person. Although I got the CCD at time but that's too new to me, I decide to use DSRL on this one.

Total 40 subs and 480sec each.

Detail: http://www.astrobin.com/212993/B/

OTA is Takahashi FSQ-85 (without reducer).

Mount is Astro-Physics Mach1

Camera is Canon T3i mod

I really like the site !!

It is dark, clean, and convenient.

We have 4 scopes that night.

This is DARC observatory... (http://www.deepskycolors.com/locations_DARC.html)

Mobile AP Setup

Sometimes I feel lazy to setup the whole AP gears.

I use iOptron SkyTracker to shot very wide field image.

This is my backyard at Fremont, CA

This is the ISON comet I took at 2013/Oct.

More detail: http://www.astrobin.com/71453/B/

Poor-Man Solar Scope

I only observe sun is special events like eclipse ...

Total cost ~ $50 and pretty save and portable. ;-)

Visual Observation

I enjoy visual observation...

I often did visual in my home (Fremont, CA) with my 10" Dob.
The light pollution is usually bad so I mainly focus on Carbon Stars or Double Stars.

I got my 10" Dob used from a local guy and it turns out a pretty good (and famous) one.
http://www.cloudynights.com/page/articles/cat/cn-reports/telescope-reports/cn-report-dba-certified-10-dobsonian-r1327

Sometimes at backyard where is a little bit darker... ;-)

Sometimes at front yard if I feel lazy to drag the scope...

My mom enjoy observing Jupiter !

I also take some photos with my iPhone...

If weather permit, I also go to the monthly SJAA event. Those events are hosted in various semi-dark sites 1hr away from my house. I usually take off from home at 6pm and arrive at 7. Setup and wait for it gets dark and start observing at 9pm, pack at 12.

More about my 10" Dob...

Some old scopes (sold)

6" Dob ...

Small AT72 refractor ...

First Post - NCG6946 (2014/8)

First post ...

I took this image at the SJAA monthly (Aug/2014) event. This type of event is usually for visual guys. I am the only imager this time... This was my second time doing astro imaging at remote site. Before this, I only image in my red-zone backyard.

• Location: Mendoza Ranch, Gilroy, California, United States
• Time: 2014/Aug/23
• More detail at:  http://www.astrobin.com/115673/C/