The Milkyway in Cygnus & Summer Triangle

[Galactic2000]

Here is another Milkyway shot taken last year,

I just got around to archiving all my images from last year, and found some unprocessed image folders on my laptop.

I’m always shooting, even when I travel.

I often don’t get time to process everything with my busy schedule….but it’s been cloudy a lot here lately, so now is the time to get all caught up.

While on my way back from a business trip to Oklahoma City,
I captured this Milkyway shot off of US 44 between Tulsa, OK & Joplin, MO. September 7th, 2010.

Captured with a modified (Baader) Canon Rebel Xsi, 17mm lens, (2 x 5min subs) 10 minute exp., ISO 800.

The Milkyway in Cygnus (centered), from Cepheus (upper right edge) through Aquila (lower left)

Visible are the Garnet Star in Cepheus with IC 1396 Nebulae Complex (upper right edge),
The North American Nebula, & Pelican Nebulae (upper right), are the brightest red nebulae in this FOV.

The Gamma Cygni Nebulae (near center right) and right above that the thin Veil Nebula Supernova Complex is also visible just above center.

The Bright Stars Vega (bottom center), Altair (bottom Left) & Deneb (Upper right) make up the Summer Triangle.

Several Messier & NGC star clusters are visible as well.

[nightfly]

Nice image John. You framed the Triangle nicely with the Great Rift showing good detail. At first I thought it was a film shot! Looks just like E200. Must be all those years shooting film rubbing off on your post processing. ;-}

[Galactic2000]

Thanks nightfly,

I used film for twenty years, but never used Slide film, only negative films, but kodak stopped making several of my films over the years, so I was forced to switch to digital back in 2004.

But now I do not regret the switch with the much higher res modified DSLR's available!

[RickJ]

What do you use for a mount when traveling?

I spent 45 years in film. Used mostly slide film starting in the 60's when High Speed Ektachrom (ASA 160) as I went to many schools. Never liked the results of converting prints to slide though did some when I went with mostly black and white hypered 2415 and filters. RGB is sure easier digital than with 2415! Converted to digital in 2005 but current system isn't portable like I was in my film days. For years I used a two hinge barn door drive powered by a 1930's era wind up alarm clock mechanism adapted to turn the drive screw. Worked with a 50mm lens for 10 minute shots and 5 minute with 135m lens. Even took one with a 400mm lens for 30 minutes with it once that came out. You don't want to know how many didn't work however. Lost an entire morning on Ikeya Seki in 1965 when I somehow managed to point the darned thing due south rather than north! I don't function well at that time of the day.

Blowing up your shot I can even find the "Coathanger". Never did replace the 1950 vintage Exa I used in my film days. Probably should think about doing so but each new Canon seems better at this than the previous one. Have to jump in somewhere I suppose. No longer have the barn door mount. Got lost in a move.

Rick

[Galactic2000]

Hi Rick,
I have several mounts, my Losmandy G-11 & GM8 mounts are my main wide field work horses, they work well for unguided exposures up to 20 minutes with 50mm lens.

One portable one is my Orion EQ-1 Mount with Motors Portable battery pack, works well for my Captures up to 5 minutes unguided, assuming good polar alignment.

and my main Ultra-Portable Fork Mounted tracking platform(with polar alignment through Axis)which has a mini Byers gear & worm set and runs off a 9v battery!
I bought it off of Astromart many years ago!

My portable fork mount is the one I took this Milkyway shot with.

My experience with Films & slides over the years is that the slide film never had enough exposure latitude for my preferences, so I always shot Negative films, which if often showed me more details in shadow areas, and I could tease out info in the dark room more easily with a Negative, even if slightly under or over exposed, I could more easily adjust by dodging and burning in the darkroom to get an excellent result. My favorites were Ektar 25, Ektar 100, Ektar 1000(a bit grainy though), Tech Pan 2415 Hypered, (very red sensitive too) the Ultimate B&W, but also used a lot of Tri-X 400 B&W, as well as, and color PPF 400, Kodak Royal Gold 100 & 400,
I've never been a real fan of Fuji Films because of the heavy green color casts, I'd get often.

I'll have to find some time, to take some shots of my portable setups, and will post them up here,
It will have to wait though as I'm on my way to Florida on business for a few weeks.


Best Regards,
John