The galaxy M81 (Boden's galaxy) and M82 (Sikarigalaxy) placed in the same image were selected as the last target of the first shooting tour of the year. Since I shoot with a short focal length (800mm) and a full-frame camera, the galaxies in question are quite modest in size in my photos. Despite the clear background sky (moon phase 76% + new snow), I wanted to test the functionality of the camera with ISO3200 sensitivity and 30s exposure time. I managed to shoot 55 frames before the clouds obscured the view. Some of the frames were unfit due to the rather brisk wind, I qualified 48 exposu...

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At the beginning of the new year, eastern Finland had a reasonably clear early night sky. When it was clear, a brilliant moon at high altitude (67%) prevented dim subjects from being photographed. But reasonably bright troops can be tried. The third photo of the evening was created from the open group M37 located in Ajomiehe. I shot about 60 frames of it with 20s exposures. 47 of them remained in the final pile.

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Testing of the new camera continued. A bright moon (76%) and a new clean snow cover ensured that it was not worth even trying to see very dim objects on such a night. So I aimed the tube at the fairly bright M35 from the east. With a short focal length (800mm) and a full-frame camera, the dimmer open cluster NGC 2158 also appears in the same image area. Their color tones stand out in an interesting way in the photo I took. The target was clearly visible in the camera's electronic viewfinder and on the screen. Especially the view of the viewfinder was confusingly bright and contrasty with I...

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Seulaset is my, like many other's, favorite destinations. It must be photographed once a year. And now I could do it on the first day of the year, good like that. The actual goal was still testing the new camera. In such bright moonlight (moon phase 76% and off-white snow on the ground) would anything remain on the cell from the blue emission fog of Seulasten. The bright backlight did not allow a sensitivity higher than ISO800 with a 20s exposure. I shot a hundred frames. According to my premonition, the strong wind of the evening ruined some of the squares, some of them were left with clo...

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First visit to a new observation site and with a new camera. Despite the forecasts, the evening started cloudy. However, a bright, shining moon (76%) could be seen through the gaps in the clouds. I snapped sixty frames in the hope that at least something would be saved from this trip as well. The final image consists of 42 stacked frames with an exposure of 1/1600s ISO400.

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N5906-Shard galaxy, photographed 1.3.-22 at 9:30-10:30 p.m.

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The crescent rose into the sky. There is already so much light that you should not try very dim objects. I've shot the M3 ball set before, but I decide to try how 300mm / f2.8 bites into such a small but bright subject. After all, the glow of the moon does not bother me so much. As I work on the images, I notice that the 180s exposure is, at least for this set of spheres, too long. Some of the pictures should have been taken with at least half the exposure, maybe even shorter. Now the center of the bunch has burned.

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A large number of galaxies are obtained in the same picture. The image of the Markarian chain includes M84, M86, M87, M88, M89, and M90, as well as a large number of other, smaller galaxies. You can get an interesting picture of the area with even a short focal length. Hopefully one day I will be able to shoot the same area over a longer focal length. The moon sniffs already above the horizon. Fortunately, the target area is high, the effect of the moon will remain small. For a month.

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The moon begins to illuminate the eastern horizon. I decide to photograph Kravu's beautiful Praesepe constellation (M44, Bee's Nest, Crib). It is visible to the naked eye, fascinating to my eyes. And with little attention. The pearl owl still 'bulges'. And now the fox moving nearby is also barking with its gleaming voice.

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The moon is still below the horizon. I decide to try Seagull Mist. I also get the open set M50 (Heart Set) for the same picture. The frost is already starting to feel. When the camera shakes, I decide to take a nap in my down bag.

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The evening continued with signs of intensifying frost. The moon still remains below the horizon. I can still try some fog. Towards the constellation of optics Driver. There should be several small but fairly clear mists below the M38.

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California Sumo is the first attempt to blur with new optics. The destination was easily found, the Menkib star gives a good direction. The test box gave a hint that this bright HII area is also visible to my crap. Gorgeous evening night, with a pearl bunny in the nearby forest.

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The first trip of the whole season to the shooting gallery. Only -2 degrees below zero in the early evening. During the night, the frost tightened sharply, at the time of departure at four o'clock in the morning the meter showed 17 degrees of frost. The moon rises only after midnight. The evening was a good shooting time. I got to try the luminous 300mm / f2.8 optics I used for the first time. The results were a positive surprise. All in all, a very nice trip. The stall remained relatively habitable thanks to a small electric battery. Around the tripod, I made a thin silver-plated bedsprea...

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The last destination of this night is M48. A spherical set that is high in the southwest after midnight, in a direction that suits me. I put on the remote control a series of thirty 150s, and a clumsy back in my stall to warm up. Because the early winter has been very warm, it is difficult to get used to even the slightest frost. Yes this is a chilly hobby! Again, when I look at the pictures, I notice there were major shortcomings in the follow-up. Of the three nail images, I get only 13 valid ones. Fortunately, the subject is quite visible, even a short exposure creates a modest picture.

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The hunting of messier continues. The set of balls M50 is visible in the direction just right for me in the southeastern sky. It’s also so bright that it just appears in the magnified viewfinder image. With a few small corrections, I get it in the middle of the picture. I leave the remote control to tap 150 s of exposures and dig myself into a down bag for small naps. In the morning, I notice to my chagrin that the southerly wind has waved the equipment sadly. Only less than half of the frames are usable.

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The bright night of December continues. Likewise, describing the Messier properties I chose as my retirement tree. M1, or crab mist, is already almost to the west, but so high that I can describe it. The subject is so dim that nothing appears in the camera's viewfinder. With the two-minute test shots, I get it where I want it. With the 800 mm telescope and the entire cell camera, M1 stands out in the picture as a modest fog spot. A gusty wind catches my telescope sadly. I photograph forty 150 s squares. It is only in front of the home computer that I see that more than a third of the image...

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The cloud forecast promised a perfectly clear night. I decided to head to my observation site in Sulkava Commercial Village. There was enough packing, filming equipment, plenty of lunch and warm extra clothing and a down bag. I prepared for a long night, equipment accordingly. I set up my hardware already in bright weather. The polar orientation is successful with the PolarMaster as soon as the bright stars of the summer triangle light up. Since my direction of shooting is to the southeast, I make an alignment in the early evening according to the bright stars visible in the east-south directi...

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Partial eclipse in clear sky. The eclipse happened on a hot summer day. Watched in the backyard with neighbors. Picture Canon 5D + 300mm and metal foil filter.

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I promised Altair in Central Uusimaa a report on the lunar eclipse in Norway 27 / 28.7. I happened to be traveling in the Norwegian Lofoten at the time. And my intention was to describe just a darkened moon rising from the horizon. With the friendly instructions of the locals and a good lunch, we were prepared to make observations. Complete lunar eclipse was not seen in the Lofoten Islands. The moon just rose to the horizon during the perfect phase. But the heavy sea fog and the cloudiness of the horizon prevented the findings. When I returned to our accommodation at night, I was able to grab ...

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I am a novice astro photographer. Here is my first attempt to describe the moon. Photographed from the balcony of my home. And by chance the plane was hit by a plane on the rise. Camera: Canon 5D Optics: Canon 300mm / f4 + Tamron 2x tele-extension Exposure: 60 x 1 / 125s / f16 Software: Pipp v.2.59, AutoStakkert! 3, Registax6, PhotoShop CS

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