Charlie Hein
Postmaster
Reged: 11/02/03
Posts: 6059
Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W
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Welcome to the November 2007 Cloudy Nights Imaging/Sketching Contest poll!
Each month the best images selected from the individual Cloudy Nights Imaging and Sketching forums will be presented for the userbase to vote on. The monthly winner receives the coveted Cloudy Nights t-shirt! At the conclusion of the poll, the entry with the highest total will be the winner of the contest..
Please choose your favorite out of all the images. This poll will remain open through November 15th at midnight EST.
Here are the entries for November!
Beginning Imaging's Finalist - Glassthrower:
It was captured on October 20th, 2007 - 10:20pm CST, from Houma Louisiana. Other information regarding the equipment used is captioned in the photo.
Film Imaging's Finalist - AstroBobo:
Cygnus, three exposures, 2x25 min on Fuji Provia 400 + 1x50 min on Kodak E200. Medium format camera Pentax 6x7, Pentax Takumar 150mm lens @ f/5.6. Taken from Petrova Gora, Croatia.
Higher resolution and quality version is here
DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing's Finalist - soreneck:
NGC2244 / The Rosette Nebula
Capture date: November 3
Scope: Equinox 80mm Apo @ f5 (0.8X WO flattener)
Mount: HEQ5 unguided
Camera: Modified Canon 350, ISO800, IDAS LPS P2 filter
Exposure: 60 minutes, 30x120sec lights, 12 darks, 10 flats
Conditions: average seeing, good transparency
Processing: stacked in DeepSkyStacker, processed in PS CS2
Larger version can be found here .
CCD Imaging & Processing's Finalist - Jared:
M42--The Orion Nebula
Jared Willson
November 23, 2007, Oakland, CA
Losmandy GM-8 Mount; FLT-110 APO @ f/6.5 (TEC); SBIG STL-11000; FLT field flattener; Astrodon LRG&B TrueBalance "I" filters
x3 three minute exposures luminance; x3 thirty second exposures luminance; x1 three minute exposure for each of RG&B
Internally guided and captured in Equinox Image; Calibration, error rejection, DDP, and color combine in MaximDL; Post processing in Photoshop CS2
Solar System Imaging's Finalist - Bart Declercq:
Mosaic of Moretus/Clavius region - October 31st 2007 3h00 UT
Each of the 6 frames is a stack of 256/2500 frames at 1/30s exposure per frame.
Camera: DMK31AF
Telescope: Celestron C9.25
2x barlow extended to an effective x2.7 (so FL approx. 6.4m)
Sketching Forum's Finalist - Jeremy Perez:
Subject: Comet 17P / Holmes
Date/Time: November 7, 2007, 9:00 - 11:30 PM MST (November 8, 2007, 04:00 - 06:00 UT)
Observing Loc: Flagstaff, AZ - Home
Instrument: Orion XT8 (203 mm dia./1200 mm F/L)
Eyepieces: 32 mm Sirius Plössl (38X / 66 arc minute TFOV)
Conditions: Calm, intermittent high cirrus
Seeing: 4/10 Pickering
Transparency: Mag 6.0 NELM
As the comet has gotten larger, the outer envelope has become much less distinct. It shows up as a faint brightening near the inner envelope that fades imperceptibly into the background. The inner envelope has almost outgrown my 24 arc-minute wide 120X view. To the naked eye, it is a large, soft spot in Perseus. The binocular view is getting better as it moves closer to the Alpha Persei association and they fit in the field more comfortably.
Through both binoculars and low power telescopic views, the comet is a bluish green color. The pseudo nucleus is much less distinct, but still visible even at 38X. The inner envelope is now soft enough on the southeast side that this half displays a sort of blinking effect between direct and averted vision. The jellyfish appearance is still there, but now I can also see an ancient trilobite in the shape of the comet. The lumpy irregularities in the central condensation seem more spread out now, and had what looked like a cartoon saguaro cactus arrangement. At 38X, I noticed a bright extension flowing away from the axis of the central condensation, well outside of the soft inner envelope. Some softer fan-like extensions also seemed to peel away from the southeast and northwest sides of the inner envelope.
The sketch was created on Strathmore sketch paper, in a 3.5" sketch circle, using charcoal and graphite (2H & HB) with a chamois, blending stump and kneaded eraser. The sketch was scanned, inverted, adjusted for contrast, dust and scratches cleaned up with the clone tool, and uneven portions adjusted with dodge and burn tools. Color was added last.
Good Luck to all our finalists!
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Beginning Imaging's Finalist - Glassthrower:
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Film Imaging's Finalist - AstroBobo:
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DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing's Finalist - soreneck:
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CCD Imaging & Processing's Finalist - Jared:
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Solar System Imaging's Finalist - Bart Declercq:
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Sketching Forum's Finalist - Jeremy Perez:
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Weston CSC:
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AstroBobo
sage
Reged: 07/04/07
Posts: 371
Loc: Zagreb, Croatia
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I am not worthy! The Clavius region and Holmes sketch are AMAZING! I had a hard time choosing, but my vote goes to the sketch master!
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Boris Stromar : AD Infinitum member : Zagreb, Croatia, Europe
P75SDHF : P105SDP : MN71 : HEQ5
http://www.astrobobo.net
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CreationAstroGuy
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/18/07
Posts: 524
Loc: NW WA
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Mine went to Bart. Amazing!
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Ryan Nelson
8" LX90 GPS UHTC
DSI with a 3.3 reducer
Eyepieces; 22mm Nagler, 16mm Meade Seires 5000, 26mm Meade Seires 4000, and a 9mm Burgess/TMB planitary!
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Dick Lipke
member
Reged: 02/20/07
Posts: 63
Loc: Marine City,Mich.
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That view of the moon made me feel as if I was about to full fill my dreams,I was about to
finaly land and walk on the moon.
Thank you Bart Declercq.
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LX90 8",Cornado Max 40,Miyauchi 20x100 Bino's,and way to many eyepieces and filters
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poweruser
member
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 97
Loc: The Final Frontier
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Although I'm not terribly experienced, I can say with total confidence that the Bart's shot is the sharpest I've seen by an amateur, of the moon.
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Orion 127mm Mak
EQ-3
Astro-Tech 1.25" Dielectric Diagonal
7mm, 9mm, 12.5mm UO Abbe
25mm Sirius Plössl
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Roy M.
super member
Reged: 01/31/06
Posts: 143
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Well, this is the first time the decision has been easy, OMG! Bart Declercq's moon is the sharpest moon I have ever seen from earth, HANDS DOWN!!! It looks like a snapshot from an orbiting Command Module, even sharper 
WTFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Televue NP-101is
Celestron C10-N GT + GPS
CG-5 (not for long)
Nikon D200 DSLR
Televue EPs: 3.5mm Nagler, 2x, 3x Barlows
Meade DSI Pro, ToUCam Pro II
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Roy M.
super member
Reged: 01/31/06
Posts: 143
Loc: Northern Virginia
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PS - I'm sold!!! Man, been hearing rave reviews about the C9.25 for years, but this pic has left me in awe. Of course is 90% the astrophotographer, but at least it shows the potential
Truly Amazing.
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Televue NP-101is
Celestron C10-N GT + GPS
CG-5 (not for long)
Nikon D200 DSLR
Televue EPs: 3.5mm Nagler, 2x, 3x Barlows
Meade DSI Pro, ToUCam Pro II
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 13641
Loc: Omicron Persei 8
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I took a look at my competition in the contest, and it's very humbling! 
All of the photos are professional quality and Jeremy's sketches are always top-notch. I don't feel worthy of being in the poll to be honest.
Great work folks. It's very inspiring and makes me want to try my hand at more imaging. 
Regards and clear skies,
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & Celestial Irons
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Roy M.
super member
Reged: 01/31/06
Posts: 143
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Mike, I love the target area and phase you chose, I just think none of us stood a chance against Bart's offering this month CYgnus, Rossetta, Orion and sketch (love the sketch!) are awesome pics in their own right... IMHO Bart just pushed the amateur envelope
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Televue NP-101is
Celestron C10-N GT + GPS
CG-5 (not for long)
Nikon D200 DSLR
Televue EPs: 3.5mm Nagler, 2x, 3x Barlows
Meade DSI Pro, ToUCam Pro II
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 13641
Loc: Omicron Persei 8
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Roy, I look back through old Sky and Telescope magazines from the 1950's when astrophotography was done with plate cameras and darkrooms, and I am amazed at how far amateur imaging has come since then. We regularly see results here on CN, taken from suburban backyards, that clearly beat the "professional" and observatory photos from the old days. Bart's shot looks like it was taken on Mt. Wilson - on a good night. And Jeremy's sketches often look photographic - him and Kraterkid are in an elite league of sketching.
I never used to visit the imaging forums until I started lurking recently - to learn more about afocal imaging. Now I am getting hooked on all the great eye candy around here.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & Celestial Irons
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Jared
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/11/05
Posts: 1589
Loc: Piedmont, California, U.S.
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Don't be so sure that Bart is going to win this one! It looks to me like he may have clipped the black point in the upper right and lower left corners...
Seriously, that is one detailed image!
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- Jared Willson
- Fluorostar FLT-110 w/ TEC optics
- Vixen VC200L
- Astro-Physics Mach1 GTO
- Stellarvue SV80S
- Takahashi Teegul SP Mount
- STL-11000
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hypernova
member
Reged: 03/31/07
Posts: 11
Loc: PA
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I am wowed by these entries. "Solar Systems Finest" Looks like an apollo Photo. Nice job guys
Edited by hypernova (12/13/07 08:15 PM)
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w orchid
sage
Reged: 04/23/07
Posts: 477
Loc: Tampa, Fl
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I am beginning to hate the contest. All of the entries are worthy to be crowned the winner.
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Celestron C8 orange tube circa 1982
Stellarvue SV102ED
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george golitzin
member
Reged: 02/24/06
Posts: 47
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They're all great. I really like the balance and clarity of the orion image. But Bart's moon shot is flat out amazing, up there with alan friedman's best work.
--george
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Ironside
newbie
Reged: 01/28/07
Posts: 4
Loc: Ohio
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NGC2244 / The Rosette Nebula
Capture date: November 3
Scope: Equinox 80mm Apo @ f5 (0.8X WO flattener)
Mount: HEQ5 unguided
Camera: Modified Canon 350, ISO800, IDAS LPS P2 filter
Exposure: 60 minutes, 30x120sec lights, 12 darks, 10 flats
Conditions: average seeing, good transparency
Processing: stacked in DeepSkyStacker, processed in PS CS2
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cbwerner
sage
Reged: 08/27/05
Posts: 478
Loc: Richmond, VA
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This feels so unfair to have to pick. They're all amazing, and it's a bit like apples and oranges. But pick I did.
Congratulations to all the finalists on their excellent shots!
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Chris Werner
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CollinofAlabama
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 889
Loc: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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Jared,
I was wowed by Declerq's moon, too, but I still voted for your magnificent M42. There's something just magical about this ever so commonly imaged nebula, and your shot brings forth the magic in a poetic way. Jared, the vivid coloration wouldn't let me go.
That said, I have to concur with the others that this was truly a VERY difficult choice. All the contestants were quite close. The Cygnus is GREAT (another magical region of the skies). Of course, Declerq's Luna is in a league with Kaguya -- mesmerizing.
And no discussion is complete without mentioning soreneck's Rosette Nebula. It almost got my vote, too. That's one SHARP image, and I love the Jo-Anne McArthur photography website. Keep up the great work, Adam! Definitely good enough to be my Desktop's background in the large-frame mode. Fantastic work!
As usual, Jeremy always does great sketches with well-written narrative to flesh out the observing experience and impart an experiential sense to the brotherhood of astronomy. And Louisiana's own is throwing up some nice images, too.
Great job, everyone!
CDS
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Coelum Serendum
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BAMBAM
member
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 59
Loc: Barrie, ON
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Quote:
I took a look at my competition in the contest, and it's very humbling!
All of the photos are professional quality and Jeremy's sketches are always top-notch. I don't feel worthy of being in the poll to be honest.
Great work folks. It's very inspiring and makes me want to try my hand at more imaging.
Regards and clear skies,
MikeG
Hi mike I would really like to see you take the same pic with your new 150mm Mak. I would really be interested in the results of that. Throw one on your thread when you get a chance.
Lawrence 
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 13641
Loc: Omicron Persei 8
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Here's the full-size version of my shot in the poll :
http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=12154&size=big
If I'm going to do anything but casual afocal with this Mak, then I'll likely need a focal reducer.
I won't say who I voted for (us green folks shouldn't show any favoritism), but it was a tough tough choice. Regardless of whether I have an image in the contest, I am going to start following these monthly competitions on a regular basis now. I'm very impressed with the entries. Now I don't have to see the NASA Picture of the Day, I can just get my eye candy fix here on CN.
As soon as I get my mount back, I am going to start doing some imaging experiments with the Mak.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & Celestial Irons
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MandarPotdar
newbie
Reged: 11/28/07
Posts: 1
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Bart, I felt like flying a few kilometers above the moon surface.. excellent photo
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Arun S Bharadwaj
newbie
Reged: 12/06/07
Posts: 1
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Bert`s photo made me feel as if I was walking on the moon.... Amazing picture !!!!
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sunnynights
member
Reged: 08/26/06
Posts: 19
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These were wonderful displays of artistic talent and technical skill. My compliments to all.
--sunnynights
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Asbytec
sage
Reged: 08/08/07
Posts: 216
Loc: La Union, PI
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Quote:
I am not worthy! The Clavius region and Holmes sketch are AMAZING! I had a hard time choosing, but my vote goes to the sketch master!
Once again, I wish they could all be given medals. But, in the final analysis, I had to agree with you.
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11" Celestron SCT
La Union, Philippines
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FAB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 2206
Loc: Blythe, CA USA
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Clavius is one of my favorite Lunar features. The Comet Holmes sketch is very impressive, but I went for Bart.
FAB
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Floie
10.0" Hardin Dob
6.0" Konus Refractor
3.0" Celestron Tabletop Newtonian
10X50 Binoculars
Bristoscope 772212 Microscope
http://home.earthlink.net/~blhtvl
&
http://home.earthlink.net/~astroclub
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soreneck
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/01/06
Posts: 527
Loc: Toronto, Canada
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Quote:
I took a look at my competition in the contest, and it's very humbling!
All of the photos are professional quality and Jeremy's sketches are always top-notch. I don't feel worthy of being in the poll to be honest.
Great work folks. It's very inspiring and makes me want to try my hand at more imaging.
I've got to agree with Glassthrower -- I'm humbled to even appear in the same list as some of you guys! It's a stunning set of images overall, and in my humble opinion Bart Declerqc's razor-sharp Clavius landscape does clearly stand above the rest.
Cheers,
Adam
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Adam
William Optics 110 FLT
WO Zenithstar Triplet 66
C8 SCT
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro
Modified Canon 350 / Stiletto focuser
Pentax 8x42 binos
One small but fearless dog (observing companion)
Backyard roll-off observatory under construction 
my astrophotos on flickr
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soreneck
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/01/06
Posts: 527
Loc: Toronto, Canada
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Quote:
And no discussion is complete without mentioning soreneck's Rosette Nebula. It almost got my vote, too. That's one SHARP image, and I love the Jo-Anne McArthur photography website. Keep up the great work, Adam! Definitely good enough to be my Desktop's background in the large-frame mode. Fantastic work!
Thanks for the kind words Collin! Jo-Anne is a close friend and immensely talented photojournalist, and I'm fortunate to help out with her site a little and share server space with her.
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Adam
William Optics 110 FLT
WO Zenithstar Triplet 66
C8 SCT
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro
Modified Canon 350 / Stiletto focuser
Pentax 8x42 binos
One small but fearless dog (observing companion)
Backyard roll-off observatory under construction
my astrophotos on flickr
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guydickinson
journeyman
Reged: 02/17/06
Posts: 5
Loc: Dorset. UK.
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Again, a fantastic selection. No idea how one can choose really.
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nothing
newbie
Reged: 08/06/07
Posts: 1
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Hi, I really liked Barts moon shot, one of the best I have ever seen. But my vote had to go to Jareds M42. This one rivals even the Hubble shots I have seen. Incredible detail in the wipsy bits, well done to both of you. I just wish I could have voted for both. Maybe we can have Solar system and deep space categories in the future.
Keith aka M42
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LXD74 10" SNT, C11, ED80, Toucam Pro, Starlight MX5C, Pentax K110D
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Asturies
super member
Reged: 06/14/07
Posts: 132
Loc: La Mancha, Spain
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I also enjoyed so much the rosette nebula, for two reasons, it's a very very nice image and intersted me so much because I have been looking for the accurate reducer-flattener for my 80mm Equinox and thanks to Soreneck I think I found it, thanks for the image Soreneck and the usefull information, BUT!!!...
With regard to the contest, nothing like being there, and Bart Declercq's walk on the Moon is AMAZING.
Rosette's image is my second one.
Could you tell me, please, which is the accurate distance you have found from the reducer to the chip of the 350D?
Greetings
Fernando
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LX90 12" with ultrawedge
Equinox 80mm APO
Mak-Cass 100mm f/14
PST Repaired of rusty objective
Canon EOS 350D
Brand new DBK21 for guiding and planetary
My web translated to English at last!!!
http://perso.wanadoo.es/jfa926/Fernando_Mejido/index.htm
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Mr Proper
journeyman
Reged: 11/21/07
Posts: 9
Loc: Brussels, Belgium
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My vote goes to Jeremy, with his fine sketch of comet Holmes. And along with that the very detailed information.
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Paul in VA
member
Reged: 05/16/05
Posts: 19
Loc: Fredericksburg, VA
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Re: Nov07 CN Sketching/Imaging Contest Finals Poll
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