Andy's Astropix | Photographer
Andy's Astropix
Phone: +61 412 455 355
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25.01.2022 Gabriella Revealed! One nickname for the NGC 3324 region is the 'Gabriela Mistral' Nebula, after the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet. The edge of the wall of gas and dust at the right bears a strong resemblance to a human face in profile, with the "bump" in the centre corresponding to a nose. 11.5 Hrs HaO3S2 & RGB from my light polluted suburban location in lockdown Melbourne, Australia. ... Average seeing, Bortle 5/6 skies. Telescope : Takahashi TOA130 Mount: Takahashi NJP Camera: QSI 6162 WSG8 Filters: Chroma Ha & S2 5nm, Chroma O3 3nm, Chroma RG & B Processed in Astropixel Processor Topaz AI & Photoshop CC 2020 See more
24.01.2022 Tarantula Twist, NGC 2070. A Southern beauty, this nebula dominates the Large Magellenic Cloud. Were it closer to earth it would leave shadows! The Tarantula Nebula is a giant star forming region about 180 thousand light-years away and more than a thousand light-years in diameter. Data processed with the usual J-P Metsavianio tone mapping and a gentle tweak or two inspired by Eric Coles Histogram balancing method. Ha>G, O3>B, S2>R... Photographed from my suburban backyard in Melbourne, Australia. 20x 600 5nm Ha 15x900 3nm O3 22x1800 5nm S2 All under a full moon! Telescope : Takahashi TOA130 Mount: Takahashi NJP Camera: QSI 6162 WSG8 Filters: Chroma Ha O3 S2 Processed in Astropixel Processor & Photoshop CC 2020
23.01.2022 Are your stars round and sharp in all four corners of your frame? Here's a few tips from my journey during lockdown to correct these commonly found (and very frustrating issues). https://youtu.be/Ox2QOpI4P6o
22.01.2022 The difference a few years experience makes! I was asked by a mentoree about my stacking & processing workflow. He uses a DSLR, so to demonstrate - I revisited a 2014 dataset from my old OSC (right) & completely reprocessed it (left) using my current favourites: APP, Starnet++, PS, Nik & Topaz. Taken from my light polluted suburban backyard - with Saxon 900mm ED, SBIG STF8300 OSC, Idas LP filter, 30x5min subs.
22.01.2022 The mighty Eta Carina Nebula, in vivid narrowband (with a touch of Eric Coles Histogram balancing.) The Carina Nebula is home to young, extremely massive stars, including the still enigmatic variable Eta Carinae, a star with well over 100 times the mass of the Sun. Eta Carinae is the bright star left of the central dark notch in this field and just below the dusty Keyhole Nebula (NGC 3324). Still sorting automation & the Stellarmate, and making good progress!... This is now my second image from my new Stellarmate/Rpi4/KStars/Ekos Macbook pro combo and again, I took it while sitting on the couch as the 'Scope Plate solved, Locked on, Auto focussed, Calibrated, Guided, Changed filters, Meridian flipped and did it all over again over two consecutive nights! So nice to sleep through the night while the 'scope does it's thing! 2 Hrs each 5nm Ha & S2, 3 Hrs 3nm O3 from my light polluted suburban location in Melbourne, Australia. Average seeing, Bortle 5/6 skies. Telescope : Takahashi TOA130 Mount: Takahashi NJP Camera: QSI 6162 WSG8 Filters: Chroma Ha O3 S2 RGB Processed in Astropixel Processor Topaz AI & Photoshop CC 2020
21.01.2022 Join me 12:30pm Mon Oct 5th AEDT (9:30pm EDT Sun 10/4/20) when I'll be presenting LIVE worldwide to the Astro Imaging Channel. Creative astrophotography involve...s more than just having expensive equipment and the latest software. Intuition, research, subject knowledge and dedication to succeed can mean the difference between an APOD worthy image or a complete failure. With a career spanning over three decades Andy’s photographic knowledge is extensive and his presentations are always well received as they are interwoven with humour, references to popular culture, Paradolia, UFO’s, science fiction and maybe even a little bit of Star Trek!
21.01.2022 "A Lagoon for Moana"- M8 from lockdown central - My light polluted suburban backyard, Bortle 7 -Melbourne. A return to my narrowband roots, just 5+ hrs of data processed with the usual J-P Metsavianio tone mapping and a gentle tweak or two inspired by Eric Coles Histogram balancing method. Ha>G, O3>B, S2>R Fortunately, it's a very bright target! ... PS: The 11 y/o reckons it looks like an Arrakis Sandworm in Space. ______________________________________ Photographed from my suburban backyard in Melbourne, Australia. 12x 600 5nm Ha 5x900 3nm O3 8x900 5nm S2 All under a full moon! Telescope : Takahashi TOA130 Mount: Takahashi NJP Camera: QSI 6162 WSG8 Filters: Chroma Ha O3 S2 Processed in Astropixel Processor & Photoshop CC 2020
20.01.2022 Apollo to Atlas>51 Years of Space Exploration. This heroic image is my tribute to the spirit and legacy of the three legendary Apollo 11 astronauts, Armstrong, Aldrin & Collins - whose incredible exploits inspired the entire world and continue to push our quest for knowledge forward half a century later. AIPP Silver Lining Awards 2020 Semi-Finalist _______________________________... After 6 months planning & research, I was there to capture the background Rocket Launch image from Kennedy Space centre Apollo/Saturn V viewing lawn, only a few yards away from this iconic monument, approx 5 miles from the launch site itself. It was an amazing and beautiful sight in the predawn twilight! I photographed the monument a little later on the same day- and the moon image previously. The launch image itself is a three minute time exposure streak shot of the ULA Atlas V Boeing Starliner un-crewed capsule test on Dec 21st, 2019. 800iso, 3 mins f22. __________________________________ Rocket launches are eerie to watch. There's the anticipation, the countdown, the thrill of the crowd and then there's a blinding light, brighter than the sun, but no sound. Around 30-45 seconds later the sound comes roaring in and shakes you to the core, a deep, crackling rumble as loud as the bass at a Kiss concert and you just get swept up in awe at the sheer power and majesty of what you're seeing. Truly a bucket list experience and I was lucky enough to see two launches on this trip! Thanks for your consideration, I hope you enjoy the result!
18.01.2022 Delighted to be included in this prestigious international publication for the second year in a row. My Gold award Appa image is featured along with fellow Astronomical Society of Victoria members Diego Colonnello and Terry Robison- Go team ASV!
15.01.2022 This is seriously cool, my all time astro hero J-p Metsavainio collaborating on a book with Brian May from Queen :) (Use google translate to read the story). https://www.munoulu.fi//queen-kitaristin-aloitteesta-synty
15.01.2022 Strange Bedfellows... These quirky little chaps in the LMC are rarely if ever imaged as a quartet, they lurk surreptitiously in the shadows below the famous Tarantula nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Colourful supernova remnant N206 contains a cluster of massive young stars (NGC2018) and the unique red circular pulsar wind nebula (or SNR). N206 resides next to it's companions, N204 a Wolf Rayet Star & co. Fun Fact: This emission nebula was cataloged by Karl Henize (H...EN-eyes) while spending 1948-1951 in South Africa doing research for his Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Michigan. Henize later became a NASA astronaut and, at age 59, became the oldest rookie to fly on the Space Shuttle during an eight-day flight of the Challenger in 1985. He died just short of his 67th birthday in 1993 while attempting to climb the north face of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. Photographed from lockdown central, Melbourne, Australia. Data processed with the usual J-P Metsavianio tone mapping Topaz Ai NR and a gentle tweak or two inspired by Eric Coles Histogram balancing method. Ha>G, O3>B, S2>R ______________________________________ If you're wanting to own copies of my images - feel free to check out the shop on my website. See link in bio for details. Photographed from my suburban backyard in Melbourne, Australia. 28x 900 5nm Ha 28x900 3nm O3 21x900 5nm S2 180 x 45 ea RGB Telescope : Takahashi TOA130 Mount: Takahashi NJP Camera: QSI 6162 WSG8 Filters: Chroma Ha O3 S2 RGB Processed in Astropixel Processor Topaz AI & Photoshop CC 2020
13.01.2022 My Tarantula pic is Astrobin image of the Day today, nice
13.01.2022 Hi all, tomorrow at 12:30pm AEDT I'm presenting a show I originally created pre Covid for NEAIC in New York! It's all about Creating Dynamic Astro Images. 8:30pm NYC 11/06/20 02:30am GMT (sorry!) Creative astrophotography involves more than just having expensive equipment and the latest software. Intuition, research, subject knowledge and dedication to succeed can mean the difference between an APOD worthy image or a complete failure. During my presentation we dive into some of the best practices I've learnt for suburban narrowband imaging, from researching unique target selection with galaxy maps and scientific resources, to equipment and processing methods. Be sure to tune in if you can for lots of tips & tricks and a little bit of Star Trek!
12.01.2022 The Carnival of the Animals. Many interesting carnival creatures can be seen in this cosmic bouquet in the Large Magellenic Cloud in Dorado. N83 resembles an Arachnid, N81 is a Hermit Crab, NGC 1727 is a Baby Octopus, DEM L36 is a Bird of Prey. Cookie monster can be seen far right, and N185 is an upturned snail. Rarely (if ever?) imaged in isolation, this remarkable collection of interesting nebulae are located East of the famous Tarantula Nebula NGC 2070.... Photographed from lockdown central, Melbourne, Australia. Data processed with the usual J-P Metsavianio tone mapping and a gentle tweak or two inspired by Eric Coles Histogram balancing method. Ha>G, O3>B, S2>R Photographed from my suburban backyard in Melbourne, Australia. 22x 900 5nm Ha 12x900 3nm O3 22x900 5nm S2 Telescope : Takahashi TOA130 Mount: Takahashi NJP Camera: QSI 6162 WSG8 Filters: Chroma Ha O3 S2 RGB Processed in Astropixel Processor & Photoshop CC 2020
12.01.2022 Thanks to everyone who tuned in to my presentation on the Astro Imaging Channel today. Unfortunately the internet went down in the San Francisco bay area and the presentation was cut short. As such, TAIC have asked if I would be willing to continue in 6-7 weeks time. Stay tuned!
11.01.2022 Overshadowed by it's more famous neighbour 47 Tuc, NGC 362 is a young Globular cluster, located in the constellation Tucana in the Southern Hemisphere, slightly north of the Small Magellanic Cloud. Pictured also is the blueish NGC 346, and it's many Ha rich nebulous companions, which resemble cherry blossoms in spring. NGC 346 is the brightest star-forming region in the neighbouring Small Magellanic Cloud galaxy, some 210 000 light-years away from Earth. Taken using Chroma 5n...m Ha, 3nmO3, Lum & RGB filters during Covid iso from my light polluted backyard in Suburban Melbourne, Australia. Processed in AstroPixel Processor, PS CC2020 , with Starnet ++, Nik & Topaz plugins. Just for fun and art's sake, a starless version of the NB masters is included.
10.01.2022 Ptolemy’s Cluster: M7 has been known since antiquity; it was first recorded by the 2nd-century Greek-Roman astronomer Ptolemy, who described it as a nebula in 130 AD. Italian astronomer Giovanni Batista Hodierna observed it before 1654 and counted 30 stars in it. In 1764, French astronomer Charles Messier catalogued the cluster as the seventh member in his list of comet-like objects. English astronomer John Herschel described it as "coarsely scattered clusters of stars".... Anyway, it's pretty darned amazing looking up into the core of the Milky way and gazing in wonder at the sea of stars behind M7. Whoever said that "there are more stars in the sky then grains of sand on all the beaches on all the earth" needs only to show a disbeliever this photo! Bowie fans will recognise the Starman himself, from the 'Serious Moonlight' tour graphic - dancing above the cluster! Taken from light pollutionville, Melbourne, Australia. Latest image from the big Tak/QSI 6162/Chroma combo. ______________________________________ If you're wanting to create your own images like this - feel free to download my FREE "Beginners Guide to Astrophotography" from my website. See link in bio for details. Photographed from my suburban backyard in Melbourne, Australia. 24 x 600 Luminance 20 x 180 R, G & B Telescope : Takahashi TOA130 Mount: Takahashi NJP Camera: QSI 6162 WSG8 Filters: Chroma LRGB Processed in Astropixel Processor & Photoshop CC 2020 _____________________________________ #qsimaging #chromafilters #takahashiamerica#astrophotography #astrophoto #narrowband #space #milkyway #nebulosity #universetoday #nasa_apod #astronomypicturesdaily #the_asv #astronomy #deepsky #skyatnight #deepspace #universe #astrofotografia #natgeospace #fantasticuniverse #spacedotcom#nights_dreamworld #aipp_official #thenakedsingularity #astropixelprocessor #universe_dope
10.01.2022 A Cosmic Bubble - SH2-308: I thought I'd reprocess my data from way back in 2015. This was shot over 5 nights from my light polluted suburban backyard in Melbourne, Australia. I have used every trick in the book re-processing this time around. APP, Starnet++, Nik etc. the whole shebang. A decent processing challenge during stage 4 Covid-19 lockdown restrictions here in Melbourne, Australia. ____________________________... APOD DESCRIPTION: Blown by fast winds from a hot, massive star, this cosmic bubble is huge. Cataloged as Sharpless 2-308 it lies some 5,200 light-years away toward the constellation of the Big Dog (Canis Major) and covers slightly more of the sky than a Full Moon. That corresponds to a diameter of 60 light-years at its estimated distance. The massive star that created the bubble, a Wolf-Rayet star, is the bright one near the center of the nebula. Wolf-Rayet stars have over 20 times the mass of the Sun and are thought to be in a brief, pre-supernova phase of massive star evolution. Fast winds from this Wolf-Rayet star create the bubble-shaped nebula as they sweep up slower moving material from an earlier phase of evolution. The windblown nebula has an age of about 70,000 years. Relatively faint emission captured in the expansive image is dominated by the glow of ionized oxygen atoms mapped to a blue hue. SH2-308 is also known as The Dolphin Nebula. ____________________________ If you're wanting to own copies of my images - feel free to check out the shop on my website. See link in bio for details. Photographed from my suburban backyard in Melbourne, Australia. WO FLT 110 NEQ6 QSI 683 wsg8 5nm Astrodon HA, O3 & RGB 10 x 120sec RG&B 35x 900 sec O3 10x900 sec Ha Processed in Astropixel Processor, Starnet ++ & Photoshop CC 2020 ____________________________ #qsimaging #eq6 #astrodon #williamoptics #astrophotography #astrophoto #narrowband #space #milkyway #nebulosity #universetoday #nasa_apod #astronomypicturesdaily #the_asv #astronomy #deepsky #skyatnight #deepspace #universe #astrofotografia #natgeospace #fantasticuniverse #spacedotcom #nights_dreamworld #aipp_official #thenakedsingularity #astropixelprocesso
08.01.2022 I've spent this lockdown period learning a new narrowband processing technique from fellow astrophotographer, Eric Coles in the USA. It involves adjusting the histogram in Photoshop to balance colours in selective areas. The process yields a much more pleasing balance of colours on hydrogen alpha dominant emission nebulae such as these two objects pictured. Ha no longer dominates the field, so there is more variation in colour. Probably not as accurate from a scientific viewpoint, but much more pleasing aesthetically! For those interested in Eric's method - here is the link - https://youtu.be/CcZhsplZ-WY.
08.01.2022 This is unexpected but happy news, congratulations to all the winners & finalists! https://www.digitalcameraworld.com//apollo-11-crew-watchin
06.01.2022 Do you sit by your telescope on long cold nights, waiting to get that darn Meridian flip done so you can go to sleep afterwards? Do you have trouble finding your target? Ever run into issues with focus? See how I've managed to get around these common issues with my new secret weapon! https://youtu.be/zhMOcqwYnSc
04.01.2022 Can you see the baby octopus with blue eyes staring at you? IC 4685 is often overlooked by astrophotographers in favour of it's more famous neighbour, M8. The signature dark river, (upper centre, B303) is very cool. Very challenging to image from light pollutionville, I had to use several advanced PS masking and layering techniques to create this final image. Hope you enjoy the result! _______________________________________... When stars form, pandemonium reigns. Visible above are red glowing emission nebulas of hydrogen, blue reflection nebulas of dust, dark absorption nebulas of dust, and the stars that formed from them. The first massive stars formed from the dense gas will emit energetic light and winds that erode, fragment, and sculpt their birthplace. And then they explode. The resulting morass can be as beautiful as it is complex. After tens of millions of years, the dust boils away, the gas gets swept away, and all that is left is a naked open cluster of stars. (text- apod) Latest image from the big Tak/QSI 6162/Chroma combo. ______________________________________ If you're wanting to own copies of my images - feel free to check out the shop on my website. See link in bio for details. Photographed from my suburban backyard in Melbourne, Australia. 20 x 300 Luminance 17x 1200 5nm Ha 20 x 180 R, G & B Telescope : Takahashi TOA130 Mount: Takahashi NJP Camera: QSI 6162 WSG8 Filters: Chroma HaLRGB Processed in Astropixel Processor & Photoshop CC 2020
03.01.2022 Sharpless Sh2-15 I spotted this region on Galaxy map & not having seen images of this nebula, I thought it might make an interesting target. The region is ionised by the star HD 161853, the brightest white star at the top of the image. In the centre is an interesting band of dust silhouetted against the Ha region.... The object is a Ha region located 5000 light years away in Scorpius, it's also known as RCW 134 and Gum 69. Two star clusters are visible in the image. NGC 6425, a bright colourful open cluster of 25 stars located 2500 light years away, in the top left corner. Pixel peepers and 'Where’s Wally' fans should try to spot Terzan 6 - visible as a tiny faint orange smudge on the right hand side of the image around 3 o'clock. (Look just below right of the small dust cloud.) This globular cluster is 25,000 light years away! 10x180 sec R,G&B 24x 300 sec LUM 12x 1200 sec 5nm Ha Taken from my light polluted suburban backyard in 'Lockdown Central’ - Melbourne, Australia.
01.01.2022 Portrait of Gabriella - My unfamiliar take on a familiar scene - NGC 3324 in starless monochrome This is a work in progress as I await clear skies to get O3, S2 & RGB data. But hey, let's use this opportunity to look deep into the rich Ha regions here and lift the curtain of stars to see what's underneath? Subtle dust clouds, multiple lavers of nebulosity and obscure isolated pockets of gas are all revealed in plain sight, once those beautiful stars are removed! ... Lots to be seen here that is often overlooked using traditional methods. Starnet++ is incredibly efficient neural net AI software that removes stars more or less perfectly in one application. Fiddly to use on a mac (but more user friendly via Pixinsight), it's a pretty cool tool to create a unique view of the universe. __________________________________________ One nickname for the NGC 3324 region is the 'Gabriela Mistral' Nebula, after the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet. The edge of the wall of gas and dust at the right bears a strong resemblance to a human face in profile, with the "bump" in the centre corresponding to a nose. 3 Hrs Ha from my light polluted suburban location in Melbourne, Australia. Average seeing, Bortle 5/6 skies. Telescope : Takahashi TOA130 Mount: Takahashi NJP Camera: QSI 6162 WSG8 Filters: Chroma Ha 5nm Processed in Astropixel Processor, Starnet++, Topaz NR ai & Photoshop CC 2020
