New to Extreme Astronomy

[sreilly]

Taking the suggestion that I use this as my first post, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Steve Reilly and I live in Central Virginia, in the more rural area where cows mo at all hours of the day and night. While maybe not the darkest of sites, it does serve our needs well. My wife and I bought our 10 acre lot a fair number of years ago while we were both still working and only built our home and observatory about 6 years ago.

My first scope was a Celestron Ultima 8 and I got a few really nice eyepieces to start with. It didn't take long to realize that I really wanted to take pictures. I had built my first darkroom at age 13 so I was a bit use to developing and printing pictures. But this also meant that I needed to guide so it would really make sense to get a CCD guider and heck, the dual chip ST7 wasn't really all that much more.

Long story short, was maybe a year with the 8" before the CG11 and then several years later upgrading the ST7 to the ST8. A few years later the G11 is replaced by the AP900GTO. Then it's time to build the new house and observatory and all of a sudden, a really nice 10" OGS RC is being sold at a really good price. The AP900 becomes a new AP1200 and the ST8 becomes an ST10XME. The 10" is gone while I wait on my 12.5" OGS RC and I image with the Tak FSQ-106ED. And I'm still married to the same beautiful woman I started all this with 21 years ago! Did I mention that you can really use a 4 wheel drive pickup to get the gear to remote sites?

Aside from that, I've just started guitar lessons after many years of being a wannabe and work a few days a week as a computer tech to give the wife a break and me some cash to expand my hobby.

I've met a bunch of really nice people who have been extremely helpful in this hobby. So if I can be of some help to someone, let me know.

Steve

[dmill1220]

Welcome Steve!

I'm glad to see another experienced member join our ranks.
I'm also looking forward to seeing some of your images, sounds, like you have an excellent setup.

Isn't it funny that most of us that have a passion for this hobby, always end up spending more and more money as new and better technologies and equipment keep being developed.

I am sure that eventually I will be upgrading all of my equipment except for my 12 inch DOB .

At present I own all Celestron equipment, except for my Meade DSI PRO II camera.

My equipment now consists of a C6RGT F/8 refractor on the CG5ASGT Mount, my old Celestron fork mounted C-8 F/10 SCT, on a super heavy duty EQ wedge, a 10 inch and 12 inch dob.

A 14" or 16" inch RC On a losmandy, or MAX Mount is just one of my dreams eventually with any luck, I will finally get there.

Dennis

[Darryl]

Hi Steve,

Welcome.

It is nice to see another dedicated astrophotographer join the site. I took a look at some of your images. Very nice work. The 12.5" OGS RC is going to be one beautiful scope.

So you mention a four wheel drive vehicle. Do you often take the time to pack everything up to go and do imaging sessions? I myself have thought about going mobile often but the skies I have in the backyard are quite reasonable though somewhat limiting as far as southern views go. I would probably gain something if I went for a bit of a drive.

Regards,
Darryl

[sreilly]

Thanks Guys. This hobby is one that will take as much or as little as you give it. What I have found to help is the few books that are out there on image processing and then the conferences. NEAF and AIC are two that I try to attend and they have some great workshops. That along with some of the new software available today is making this hobby a bit easier. Not to mention the high quality equipment we can get. I find the hardest part is processing an image. Heck, I'm usually asleep or doing something else while the data is being collected.

The 4 wheel drive pickup...well that was needed a few times before the portable observatory, I mean camper, was acquired. Thankfully the little wife enjoys going "camping". Remote imaging is very seldom, my knees can't take that any more. They need to be replaced but they only last so long before having it done again and more aggressivly so I'm holding off a few more years. And you need to be prepared. I've quit smoking but now I need to loose the weight!

Thanks Again,

Steve