Below are images illustrating a typical setup for a rooftop observing session at VIU. I often employ an alt-az mounted 8″ reflector as our “live” viewing telescope (utilizing a selection of eyepieces offering different fields of view & magnifications) and equatorial mounted 3″ or 5″ refractors with specialized astronomical cameras for short exposure, “near real-time” viewing of objects (in some cases even in colour!).
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/VIU_rooftop_observing_setups-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/VIU_rooftop_observing_ES127CF_iEQ45-720x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/IMG_4411.jpeg)
Below are images taken on our rooftop viewing site in Nanaimo during the 2023/24 with ZWO’s 533MC camera and VIU’s 5″ refractor via the “Live view” feature of ZWO’s ASIAir Pro wireless control device. Individual exposures range from a few seconds to a couple of minutes which are then combined (“stacked”) by the ASIAir “on the fly” to improve signal-to-noise. Some minor post-processing has been done to produce the images shown.
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M42_Orion_Stacked28_60.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M46_Stacked22_60.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M97_Owl_M108_Stacked9_120.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M3_Stacked12_60.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M81_Bodes_M82_Cigar_Stack18_120.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M82_Cigar_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M51_Whirlpool_Stacked6_180.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M101_Pinwheel_Stacked4_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC4565_Needle_Stacked5_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M106_Stacked6_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC4631_Whale_HockeyStick_Stacked6_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC3628_LeoTriplet_Stacked6_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_gain100_0C-960x675.jpeg)
Below are images taken in Nanaimo between 2022 – 2024 with ZWO’s 2600MC/MM and 533MC camera(s), my 3″ & 5″ refractors & 6″ reflector via the “Live view” feature of ZWO’s ASIAir Pro wireless control device. Individual exposures of a few seconds to a few minutes are combined (“stacked”) “on the fly” by the ASIAir to improve signal-to-noise. Some post-processing in Photoshop has been done to produce the images shown.
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/Borg77edii_ASIAM5_back_deck-720x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/Borg125SD_CEM60_deck-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/ES152CF_AM5_deck_2-720x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/Horizon_Comet_12P_PonsBrooks_Bin1_2600MC_L2_gain100_0C_3.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M42_Orion_RunningMan_Stacked12_300.0s_Bin1_2600MC_gain100_20240205-002425_-0C.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M42_300.0s_Bin1_Stack9_2600MC_gain100_0.0C_ASIDeepStack.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/IC434_Horsehead_NGC2024_Flame_Stacked5_600.0s_Stacked14_300.0s_Bin1_2600MC_gain100.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/IC434_Horsehead_Flame_Borg125SD_ASTKL2_OAG_ASI2600MC.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC7023_Iris_Stacked25_300.0s_Bin1_2600MC_gain100_20230916-010310_0.0C.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M45_Pleiades_Stacked15_300.0s_Stacked16_600.0s_Bin1_2600MC_gain100_-0.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M27_Stacked14_60.0s_Bin1_533MC_L_gain100_20231007-202914_0.0C-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M97_Owl_M108_Stacked11_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_ASIStudio-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M13_Hercules_Stacked16_60.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_2685-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M31_Andromeda_ASTKL2_Stacked12_300.0s_Bin1_2600MC_gain100_2398.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M33_Triangulum_Borg125SD_ASTKL2_OAG_ASI2600MC.jpg_1891.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M101_Pinwheel_Stacked12_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_2682-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M81_Bodes_M82_Cigar_Stacked12_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_2680-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M51_Whirlpool_Stacked12_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_2684-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M106_Stacked12_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_2681-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M63_Sunflower_Stacked13_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_2693-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC6946_Fireworks_NGC6939_Stacked7_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_2697-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC4565_Needle_Stacked10_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_2694-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC4631_Whale_HockeyStick_Stacked11_300.0s_Bin1_533MC_L2_2691-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M95_M96_M105_Leo_Stacked12_300.0s_Bin1_2600MC_L2.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/MarkariansChain_Stacked19_300.0s_Bin1_2600MC_L2.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC2244_600.0s_Bin1_Stack9_2600MC_gain100_0.0C.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/M8_M20_photomerge_PS_pano-960x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC7000_NorthAmerica_Pelican_Stacked24_300.0s_Bin1_2600MC_gain100_20230930-020133_0.0C.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC6960_Veil_Stacked13_300.0s_Bin1_2600MC_gain100_20230929-234125_0.0C.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC6888_600.0s_Bin1_Stack12_2600MC_gain100_-0.1C.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC281_300.0s_Bin1_Stack12_2600MC_gain100_0.0C.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/IC1396_ElephantTrunk_Stacked12_300.0s_Bin1_2600MM_gain100_20230429-041821_0.0C.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/IC1396_600.0s_Bin1_Stack11_2600MC_gain100_0.0C.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC2264_600.0s_Bin2_stack6_294MM_gain120_20221009-050758_0.0C-654x675.jpg)
![](https://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2024/05/NGC1499_MOSAIC_ASI294MM_gain120-653x675.jpg)
Below are images taken in Nanaimo during the spring of 2021 with my 3″ & 5″ refractors using the “Live view” feature of ZWO’s ASIAir Pro wireless control device. Individual exposures range from a few seconds to a couple of minutes which are then combined (“stacked”) by the ASIAir “on the fly” to improve signal-to-noise and produce the images shown. Aside from contrast adjustment the images are straight from the iPad running the ASIAir Pro. Colour images are using the lower resolution ASI385MC camera; monochrome images are taken with higher resolution ASI294MM Pro and ASI290MM cameras. ** Note: sky conditions vary greatly from night to night, affecting image quality. In addition, images have been compressed for the web which can reduce image quality. **
![](http://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2021/04/IMG_6982.jpeg)
![](http://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2021/04/Borg125SD_ASI385MC_EFW.jpeg)
![](http://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2021/04/IMG_0167.jpeg)
![](http://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2021/04/IMG_0169.jpeg)
![](http://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2021/04/IMG_0321.jpeg)
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![](http://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2021/04/NGC7023_Iris_0418_Borg125SD_EFW_ASI385MC.jpg)
![](http://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2021/04/M3_0417_Borg125SD_EFW_ASI385MC.jpg)
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![](http://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2021/04/M101_0415_Borg125SD_EFW_ASI385MC.jpg)
![](http://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2021/04/M109_0401_Borg125SD_EFW_ASI385MC.jpg)
![](http://wordpress.viu.ca/arkosg/files/2021/04/NGC4565_Needle_0408_Borg125SD_EFW_ASI385MC.jpg)