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!).
Below are sample images demonstrating the view with the 8″ scope, shot using an iPhone through a 31mm eyepiece during March 2020. Actual `eyeball’ views at the scope tend to be sharper & more evenly illuminated but show less colour (our eyes’ rod cells providing our nighttime vision are not particularly colour sensitive). However, the pictures do at least provide some indication of what can be seen from the roof with an 8″ reflector.
Below are sample short exposure “near real-time” images taken with my 5″ refractor on an equatorial mount during the same time period in March 2020. The monochrome images use a higher resolution camera than the colour images do. Compare monochrome vs. colour vs. 8″ live view (iphone images) – some objects have views with all three! – to see how the various views stack up to each other. ** Note: sky conditions do vary Greatly from night to night, affecting image quality. In addition, images have been compressed for the web which will reduce image quality somewhat. **
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.
