With a desire to promote astrophotography I have set up a Facebook group called Astronomy Imaging UK to not only showcase what is possible from “backyard observatories” but also explain “how” it was achieved.
Having recently setup my own observatory, I will over the months to come be adding an astro-blog together with guides and tutorials then eventually, I will be running some practical workshops.
Please check the Tutorials area for the current selection of completed guides.
Stephen Bowden FRAS
STEM Ambassador for Royal Astronomical Society
Above is a photo of the MIG headquarters
Equipment:
SkyWatcher Equinox ED120 refractor with Moonlite dual speed focuser mod
Celestron C8 with Starbright Coatings
SkyWatcher Traveller 80mm refractor with LVI Smartguider for autoguiding
NEQ6 Pro mount on a fixed pier under computer control using Cartes du Ciel
Remote control using SkyFi and iPad/phone
Baader Hyperion zoom 8-24mm (and 2.5x Barlow) + assortment of eyepieces and 2x Barlow
Canon 5DmkIII (unmodded for widefield imaging)
Sony A7S (astromodified) + 2″ filter tray with Astronomic light pollution filter
ZWO ASI178MC (CMOS for planetary, guiding and some deep sky)
2″ IKharos combined focal reducer and field flattener
MESH WiFi network for house and garden coverage
Laptop and various astro software including plate solving
