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 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.
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.
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. **
