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Swansea Astronomical Society BlogTuesday, October 23, 2018An Angelfish and the Moon with AstroDMx Capture for Linux
A Skywatcher Explorer 130 PDS 130mm, f/5 Newtonian was placed on a Celestron AVX EQ, GOTO mount. A ZWO ASI178MC (USB3.0, 14 bit ADC) camera was placed at the Newtonian focus. Using AstroDMx Capture for Linux, running on an Xubuntu laptop, 40 x 40s exposures were captured of M71 with 15 matching dark-frames.
The best 36 images were stacked in Deep Skt Stacker (running in Wine) and the resulting image was post processed in the Gimp 2.10 and Fitswork which was running in Wine. Click on an image to get a closer view.
M71, the Angelfish globular cluster
 Then 2 overlapping, 2000-frame SER files were captured of the Moon, using AstroDMx Capture for Linux. The best 30% of frames in each SER file were stacked in Autostakkert! and the resulting images stitched together with Microsoft ICE (both programs running in Wine). The resulting image was wavelet processed in Registax 5.1 running in Wine. The final image was post processed in the Gimp 2.10.
96.2% waxing, gibbous Moon
 Steve Wainwright & Nicola Mackin Monday, October 22, 2018NGC 253 The Sculptor Galaxy captured using the Autonomous Robotic
COAST (COmpletely Autonomous Survey Telescope) consists of a 14 inch f/10 Schmidt Cassegrain telescope (a Celestron 14), equipped with an FLI ProLine KAF-0900 CCD camera, broadband and narrow-band filters, also mounted on a GM4000.
Exposure Time 120000 ms Filter Type BVR Dark Frame Instant Site Name Tenerife 2 Telescope Type Name Galaxy Telescope Name COAST Edited in their software, then Adobe Elements 11 and Fitswork4  Colin Miles 91.6% waxing Moon with an SVBONY SV105 low cost camera and AstroDMx Capture for Linux
The new SVBONY SV105 camera was fitted with a double polarising filter and placed at the Newtonian focus of an f/5, 130mm Skywatcher 130PDS Newtonian.
AstroDMx Capture for Linux running on an Xubuntu laptop was used to capture 3 overlapping 1000-frame SER files of the 91.67% waxing, gibbous Moon. Click on an image to get a closer view
Screenshot of AstroDMx Capture for Linux capturing data
 The best 30% of the frames in the SER files were stacked in Autostakkert!, stitched together in Microsoft ICE and wavelet processed in Registax 5.1, all running in Wine. The final image was post processed in the Gimp 2.10.
The 91.6% waxing, gibbous Moon
 Steve Wainwright & Nicola Mackin Sunday, October 21, 2018Deep Sky Sketches
A 150mm refractor was used with a Watec camera as an electronic eyepiece.
Click on a sketch to get a larger view
       Jim Startup Saturday, October 20, 2018The Plato region of the Moon with an SVBONY SV105 camera and AstroDMx Capture for Linux
The new SVBONY SV105 camera fitted with an ND13 neutral density filter was placed in a 2x Barlow and attached to an f/5, 130mm Skywatcher 130PDS Newtonian.
AstroDMx Capture for Linux running on an Xubuntu laptop was used to capture a 1000 frame SER file of the Plato region of the 84.7% waxing, gibbous Moon.
Click on an image to get a closer view
Screenshot of AstroDMx Capture for Linux capturing the data
 The best 30% of the frames in the SER file were stacked in Autostakkert! and the resulting image wavelet processed in Registax 5.1, both running in Wine.  Steve Wainwright & Nicola Mackin A lunar study with the SVBONY SV105 low cost camera, a Skymax 127 and AstroDMx Capture for Linux
An SVBONY SV105 camera was placed at the Cassegrain focus of a Skymax 127 Maksutov, mounted on a Celestron AVX GOTO mount. AstroDMx Capture for Linux running on an Xubuntu laptop, was used to capture a 1000 frame SER file as YUYV, with real time flat-field correction (to correct for pixel vignetting).
The best 500 frames in the 1000 frame SER file were stacked in Autostakkert! running in Wine, wavelet processed in Registax 5.1 also running in Wine, and post processed in the Gimp 2.10. A study of the Mare Imbrium, Mare Serenitatis, Mare Frigoris region, with Craters Plato, Archimedes, Aristillus, Autolycus, Eudoxus and Aristoteles with the Montes Apennines (covering the Apollo 15 landing site), Caucasus and Alpes, on the Alpine Valley with the waxing Moon 69% illuminated.
Click on the image to get a closer view.
 AstroDMx Capture for Linux running on an Xubuntu laptop, was used to capture Two, overlapping 1000 frame SER file as YUYV, mapped to grey-scale, with real time flat-field correction (to correct for pixel vignetting), of the Tycho region of the 69% waxing Moon. The best 30% of the frames in each SER file were stitched in Autostakkert! and wavelet processed in Registax 5.1, and stitched in Microsoft ICE, all running in Wine. The resulting image was post processed in the Gimp 2.10 and Pinta. Click on the image to get a closer view 
Steve Wainwright & Nicola Mackin
Friday, October 19, 2018The California nebula, NGC 1499
Captured 13 x 600s exposures in H-alpha with an Atik 428 camera and Starwave EDT70 telescope.
7 x R, 6 x B and 5 x G mostly 600s subs with an SX H694 camera and Altair Wave 102 triplet.
Click on the image to get a closer view.
NGC 1499
 Anne Startup 69% waxing Moon terminator with a SVBONY SV105 camera and AstroDMx Capture for Linux
A low cost SV105 camera by SVBONY was fitted with an ND13 neutral density filter and placed at the Cassegrain focus of a Skymax 127 Maksutov scope. AstroDMx Capture for Linux, running on an Xubuntu laptop was used to capture 9, overlapping, 1000-frame SER files of the terminator of the 69% waxing, gibbous Moon as YUYV, mapped to greyscale and real-time flat-field corrected, to correct for pixel vignetting. The best 60% of the frames in each SER files were stacked in Autostakkert! running in Wine. The resulting images were stitched together in Microsoft ICE running in Wine and then wavelet processed in Registax 5.1 also running in Wine. The resulting mosaic of the terminator was post processed in the Gimp 2.10.
Click on an image to get a closer view
Equipment used for capturing the data 
Screenshot of AstroDMx Capture for Linux capturing data
Terminator of the 69% waxing, gibbous Moon
 Steve Wainwright & Nicola Mackin Thursday, October 18, 2018LRGB M71
12x5 minute subs using an SX H694 camera and a Wave 102mm telescope. Added to the RGB subs taken previously. 5x150s exposures for each R G B filter all binned 2x2, using an Atik 428 ccd camera and a Starwave 70EDT telescope.
Click on the image to get a closer view
M71
 Anne Startup 60.1% waxing Moon with an SVBONY SV105, low cost camera and AstroDMx Capture for Linux
Tested the new SVBONY SV105 camera fitted with an ND13 neutral density filter, an f/5, 130mm Skywatcher 130PDS Newtonian and AstroDMx Capture for Linux.
Screenshot of AstroDMx Capture for Linux
Click on the image to get a closer view
 Three overlapping, 1000 frame SER files were captured of the 60.1% waxing Moon as YUYV, mapped to greyscale and real-time flat field corrected, to correct for Pixel vignetting. The best 60% of frames for each SER file were stacked in Autostakkert! running in Wine. The three resulting images were stitched in Microsoft ICE running in Wine and post processed in the Gimp and FastStone Image viewer
60.1% waxing, gibbous Moon.
Click on the image to get a closer view
 Steve Wainwright & Nicola Mackin Monday, October 15, 2018Deep Sky Imaging with the Autonomous Robotic Telescope
Autonomous Robotic Telescope formerly Bradford Robotic telescope
COAST (COmpletely Autonomous Survey Telescope) consists of a 14 inch f/10 Schmidt Cassegrain telescope (a Celestron 14), equipped with an FLI ProLine KAF-0900 CCD camera, broadband and narrow-band filters, also mounted on a GM4000. Exposure Time 120000 ms Filter Type BVR Dark Frame Instant Site Name Tenerife 2 Telescope Type Name Galaxy Telescope Name COAST Edited using their software then in Adobe Elements 11.
The Deer Lick Galaxy Group NGC 7331
The Bubble Nebula NGC 7635
The Fireworks Galaxy NGC 6946
 Colin Miles NGC 7635 The Bubble Nebula
Celestron 9.25 SCT AVX, 0.63 Focal Reducer, Celestron Off-Axis Guider, ZWO ASI120MM guide camera, 8 images at 300 secs exposures captured with the Orion G3 DeepSpace Colour CCD camera, processed in Orion Studio Software and then in Adobe Elements 11.
NGC 7635 The Bubble Nebula
Colin Miles
Thursday, October 11, 2018Furzehill Observatory
In our first meeting of the 2018/9 season, Ian Miller gave us a talk about the Furzehill Observatory. Ian is a distinguished observer who has been observing for at least 40 years. His main interest is variable stars.
Great to see all our members again after the long summer break!
Wednesday, October 10, 2018NGC 7331 The Deer Lick Galaxy Group
Celestron 9.25 SCT AVX, 0.63 Focal Reducer, Celestron Off-Axis Guider, ZWO ASI120MM guide camera, 16 images at 300 secs exposures captured with the Orion G3 DeepSpace Colour CCD camera, then processed in Orion Studio Software and then in Adobe Elements 11 and Fitswork.
Click on the image to get a closer view
NGC 7331
 Colin Miles Sunday, October 7, 2018M2 and M31 with AstroDMx Capture for Linux and a ZWO ASI178MC
M2 and M31 Captured with AstroDMx Capture for Linux, a ZWO ASI178MC 14 bit, USB3.0 CMOS camera and a Skywatcher Explorer 130 PDS 130mm, f/5 Newtonian mounted on a Celestron AVX EQ, GOTO mount.
Click on an image to get a closer view
M2
Part of M31
 Steve Wainwright and Nicola Mackin M33 with a ZWO ASI178MC and AstroDMx Capture for Linux
Stack of 15 x 60s exposures of M33, Captured with AstroDMx Capture for Linux, a ZWO ASI178MC camera and a Skywatcher Explorer 130 PDS 130mm, f/5 Newtonian mounted on a Celestron AVX EQ, GOTO mount.
Click on the image to get a closer view
M33  Steve Wainwright and Nicola Mackin Tuesday, October 2, 2018New Venue for the Swansea Astronomical Society. Trallwn Community Centre, Bethel Road, Llansamlet, Swansea SA7 9QP
The Swansea Astronomical Society has a new venue for its lectures. This is:
Trallwn Community Centre, Bethel Road, Llansamlet, Swansea SA7 9QP
click on the map to get a closer view
 The venue is very convenient for the M4 motorway and it should be easier for speakers to get to us. The site has good wheelchair access and a very good car park.   In addition to the most convenient parking possible, the site is monitored by CCTV. The location is very pleasant and we have kitchen facilities adjacent to the lecture room where we can make refreshments after a talk. A good move and well done to Howard Davies the SAS chairman for setting it up. The first talk of the season will be:
Sunday, September 30, 2018NGC6946 Fireworks Galaxy
Celestron 9.25 SCT AVX, 0.63 Focal Reducer, Celestron Off-Axis Guider, ZWO ASI120MM guide camera, 39 images at 120 secs exposures captured with the Orion G3 DeepSpace Colour CCD camera, then processed in Orion Studio Software and then in Adobe Elements 11 and Fitswork.
 Colin Miles Thursday, September 27, 2018Flat fields and low cost cameras
Many low cost cameras have small CMOS chips that exhibit pixel vignetting. Sometimes this manifests in a way similar to classical vignetting as with the Sweex Viewplus WC070 webcam
Sweex mono flat field
 Sometimes the pixel vignetting manifests as a reverse of classical vignetting where the centre of the image is darker than the extremities, as in the SVBONY SV105 camera
SV105 desaturated flat-field
 In each case, using flat fields corrects the image.
Sweex WC070 webcam
Two ways of attaching the camera to a telescope:
1. Camera mounted in a project box
2. Lens removed and c/cs ring attached to the camera's original case
Flat fields were captured with AstroDMx Capture for Linux using a Skywatcher Skymax 127 f/11.8 Maksutov with 1mm white styrene plasticard sheet in front of the scope. The scope was pointed towards the clear, eastern sky for illumination.
Capturing flat fields
 Two, overlapping, 500 frame SER files were captured of the Cleomedes, Macrobius, Proclus, Picard region; and the Mare Crisium, Endymion, Lacus Temporis, Messala, Geminus, Bernouli region of the 96.3% waning Moon. The best 80% of the frames in the SER files were stacked in Autostakkert!, wavelet processed in Registax 5.1 and stitched together in Microsoft ICE, all running in Wine. The final image was post processed in the Gimp 2.10.
Click on the image to get a closer view
An acceptable image, showing little compression artefacts was the final result.
SVBONY SV105
 
AstroDMx Capture for Linux was used to capture 500 frame SER files, flat field corrected in real time.
The best 80% of the frames in the SER files were stacked in Autostakkert! and wavelet processed in Registax 5.1 both running in Wine. The final images were post processed in the Gimp 2.10.Two overlapping panes were stitched in Microsoft ICE running in Wine.
Click on an image to get a closer view
Mare serenitatis, Mare Tranquillitatis, Palus somni, Posidonius, Lacus, somniorum region. Two stitched, overlapping panes
Left to right; the lunar swirl Reiner Gamma, crater Kepler, crater Copernicus
 Very little compression artefacts were noticeable in the images produced from this low cost imager. Steve Wainwright & Nicola Mackin Lunar studies on the 96% waning Moon
Celestron 9.25 SCT AVX, 2xTelevue Barlow, ZWO ASI120MM camera, 3000 images captured in Firecapture 2.5x64, 750 stacked and aligned in AutoStakkert!2.3, wavelets in Registax 6, then edited in Adobe Elements 11
Endymion, De La Rue
Cleomedes, Burckhardt, Tralles
Endymion, De La Rue, Strabo, Keldysh
Langrenus, Atwood, Bilharz
Petavius, Wrottesley
 Colin Miles ArchivesDecember 27, 2009 January 3, 2010 January 17, 2010 January 24, 2010 January 31, 2010 February 7, 2010 February 14, 2010 February 21, 2010 February 28, 2010 March 7, 2010 March 14, 2010 March 21, 2010 March 28, 2010 April 4, 2010 April 11, 2010 April 18, 2010 April 25, 2010 May 2, 2010 May 9, 2010 May 16, 2010 May 23, 2010 May 30, 2010 June 6, 2010 June 13, 2010 June 20, 2010 June 27, 2010 July 4, 2010 July 11, 2010 July 18, 2010 July 25, 2010 August 1, 2010 August 8, 2010 August 15, 2010 August 22, 2010 August 29, 2010 September 12, 2010 September 19, 2010 September 26, 2010 October 3, 2010 October 10, 2010 October 17, 2010 October 24, 2010 October 31, 2010 November 7, 2010 November 14, 2010 November 21, 2010 November 28, 2010 December 5, 2010 December 12, 2010 December 19, 2010 December 26, 2010 January 2, 2011 January 9, 2011 January 16, 2011 January 23, 2011 January 30, 2011 February 6, 2011 February 13, 2011 February 20, 2011 February 27, 2011 March 6, 2011 March 13, 2011 March 20, 2011 March 27, 2011 April 3, 2011 April 10, 2011 April 17, 2011 April 24, 2011 May 8, 2011 May 15, 2011 May 22, 2011 May 29, 2011 June 5, 2011 June 12, 2011 June 19, 2011 June 26, 2011 July 3, 2011 July 10, 2011 July 17, 2011 July 24, 2011 July 31, 2011 August 7, 2011 August 14, 2011 August 21, 2011 August 28, 2011 September 11, 2011 September 25, 2011 October 2, 2011 October 9, 2011 October 16, 2011 October 23, 2011 October 30, 2011 November 6, 2011 November 13, 2011 November 20, 2011 November 27, 2011 December 4, 2011 December 11, 2011 December 18, 2011 December 25, 2011 January 1, 2012 January 8, 2012 January 15, 2012 January 22, 2012 January 29, 2012 February 5, 2012 February 12, 2012 February 19, 2012 February 26, 2012 March 4, 2012 March 11, 2012 March 18, 2012 March 25, 2012 April 1, 2012 April 8, 2012 April 15, 2012 April 22, 2012 May 6, 2012 May 13, 2012 May 20, 2012 May 27, 2012 June 17, 2012 July 8, 2012 July 15, 2012 July 22, 2012 August 5, 2012 August 12, 2012 August 19, 2012 August 26, 2012 September 2, 2012 September 9, 2012 September 16, 2012 September 23, 2012 September 30, 2012 October 7, 2012 October 14, 2012 October 21, 2012 October 28, 2012 November 4, 2012 November 11, 2012 November 18, 2012 November 25, 2012 December 2, 2012 December 9, 2012 December 16, 2012 December 23, 2012 December 30, 2012 January 6, 2013 January 13, 2013 January 20, 2013 January 27, 2013 February 3, 2013 February 10, 2013 February 17, 2013 February 24, 2013 March 3, 2013 March 10, 2013 March 17, 2013 March 24, 2013 March 31, 2013 April 7, 2013 April 14, 2013 April 21, 2013 April 28, 2013 May 5, 2013 May 12, 2013 May 19, 2013 May 26, 2013 June 2, 2013 June 9, 2013 June 16, 2013 June 23, 2013 June 30, 2013 July 7, 2013 July 14, 2013 July 21, 2013 July 28, 2013 August 11, 2013 August 18, 2013 August 25, 2013 September 1, 2013 September 8, 2013 September 15, 2013 September 22, 2013 September 29, 2013 October 6, 2013 October 13, 2013 October 27, 2013 November 3, 2013 November 10, 2013 November 17, 2013 November 24, 2013 December 1, 2013 December 8, 2013 December 15, 2013 December 22, 2013 December 29, 2013 January 5, 2014 January 12, 2014 January 19, 2014 January 26, 2014 February 2, 2014 February 9, 2014 February 16, 2014 February 23, 2014 March 2, 2014 March 9, 2014 March 16, 2014 March 23, 2014 March 30, 2014 April 6, 2014 April 13, 2014 April 20, 2014 April 27, 2014 May 4, 2014 May 11, 2014 May 25, 2014 June 1, 2014 June 8, 2014 June 15, 2014 June 22, 2014 June 29, 2014 July 6, 2014 July 20, 2014 July 27, 2014 August 3, 2014 August 10, 2014 August 17, 2014 August 24, 2014 August 31, 2014 September 7, 2014 September 14, 2014 September 21, 2014 September 28, 2014 October 5, 2014 October 12, 2014 October 19, 2014 October 26, 2014 November 2, 2014 November 9, 2014 November 16, 2014 November 23, 2014 November 30, 2014 December 7, 2014 December 14, 2014 December 21, 2014 December 28, 2014 January 4, 2015 January 11, 2015 January 18, 2015 January 25, 2015 February 1, 2015 February 8, 2015 February 15, 2015 February 22, 2015 March 1, 2015 March 8, 2015 March 15, 2015 March 22, 2015 March 29, 2015 April 5, 2015 April 12, 2015 April 19, 2015 April 26, 2015 May 3, 2015 May 10, 2015 May 17, 2015 May 24, 2015 May 31, 2015 June 7, 2015 June 14, 2015 June 21, 2015 June 28, 2015 July 5, 2015 July 12, 2015 July 19, 2015 July 26, 2015 August 2, 2015 August 9, 2015 August 16, 2015 August 23, 2015 August 30, 2015 September 6, 2015 September 13, 2015 September 20, 2015 September 27, 2015 October 4, 2015 October 11, 2015 October 18, 2015 October 25, 2015 November 1, 2015 November 8, 2015 November 22, 2015 November 29, 2015 December 20, 2015 December 27, 2015 January 3, 2016 January 10, 2016 January 17, 2016 January 24, 2016 January 31, 2016 February 7, 2016 February 14, 2016 February 21, 2016 February 28, 2016 March 6, 2016 March 13, 2016 March 20, 2016 March 27, 2016 April 3, 2016 April 10, 2016 April 17, 2016 April 24, 2016 May 1, 2016 May 8, 2016 May 15, 2016 May 22, 2016 May 29, 2016 June 5, 2016 July 10, 2016 July 17, 2016 July 31, 2016 August 7, 2016 August 14, 2016 August 21, 2016 August 28, 2016 September 4, 2016 September 11, 2016 October 2, 2016 October 9, 2016 October 16, 2016 October 30, 2016 November 6, 2016 November 13, 2016 November 20, 2016 November 27, 2016 December 4, 2016 December 11, 2016 December 18, 2016 December 25, 2016 January 1, 2017 January 8, 2017 January 15, 2017 January 22, 2017 January 29, 2017 February 5, 2017 February 12, 2017 February 19, 2017 February 26, 2017 March 5, 2017 March 12, 2017 March 19, 2017 March 26, 2017 April 2, 2017 April 9, 2017 April 16, 2017 April 23, 2017 April 30, 2017 May 7, 2017 May 14, 2017 May 21, 2017 May 28, 2017 June 4, 2017 June 11, 2017 June 18, 2017 July 2, 2017 July 9, 2017 July 16, 2017 July 23, 2017 August 6, 2017 August 13, 2017 August 20, 2017 August 27, 2017 September 10, 2017 September 17, 2017 September 24, 2017 October 1, 2017 October 8, 2017 October 15, 2017 October 22, 2017 October 29, 2017 November 5, 2017 November 12, 2017 November 19, 2017 November 26, 2017 December 3, 2017 December 10, 2017 December 24, 2017 December 31, 2017 January 7, 2018 January 21, 2018 January 28, 2018 February 4, 2018 February 11, 2018 February 18, 2018 February 25, 2018 March 4, 2018 March 18, 2018 March 25, 2018 April 8, 2018 April 15, 2018 April 22, 2018 April 29, 2018 May 6, 2018 May 13, 2018 May 20, 2018 May 27, 2018 June 3, 2018 June 10, 2018 June 17, 2018 June 24, 2018 July 1, 2018 July 8, 2018 July 15, 2018 July 22, 2018 August 5, 2018 August 12, 2018 August 19, 2018 August 26, 2018 September 2, 2018 September 9, 2018 September 23, 2018 September 30, 2018 October 7, 2018 October 14, 2018 October 21, 2018
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