Charlie Hein
Postmaster
Reged: 11/02/03
Posts: 6157
Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W
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Welcome to the December 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 January 15th at midnight EST.
Here are the entries for December!
Beginning Imaging's Finalist - Jeff J.:
M1 - Crab Nebula
13 October 2007
Las Cruces, NM USA
Celestron 8" SCT CF XLT @ F6.3
Takahashi EM200 Temma II
SXV-H9C, SXV guider on WOZS66
2x5min, 25x4min
Captured, LRGB extracted/aligned AstroArt3. Processed AstroArt3, PS7.
Jeffrey Johnson
Film Astrophotography's Finalist - RALF_T:
As you can see: M1. Photographed with a 12"/f5.3 Newtonian. It´s a composite of 2 shots, 35 and 45 minutes on Kodak Royal 200. First, both negatives were scanned and combined in PS. Second, a print was made(from the 45 minute shot), scanned too, and finally combined with the negative scans.
DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing's Finalist - Strgazr27:
This was a "First Light" for my new Hutech MN-74 and Modded 40D riding on my CGE. Guided with an AT66/DSI Pro/PHD combo
NGC2244
15X300 ISO 800
Darks and Flats
Calibrated in IP Version 3
Stacked in Registar
Final processing in PSCS2
CCD Imaging & Processing's Finalist - DeepSpaceViews:
Hello,
This image of the Witch Head Nebula was taken from the 2007 Black Forest Star Party in PA.
Telescope- Takahashi FSQ-106ED
Mount- Takahashi EM-500 Temma II
Camera- SBIG STL-11000M
Filters- Astrodon L,R,G,B
All channels were taken at 8 x 10min exposures bin 1x1.
Processed in CCDStack & Adobe Photoshop CS2
A larger version can be seen here http://deepspaceviews.com/2007%20BFSP%20Witch%20Head%20Image.htm
Thank you,
Stephen T. Roffo Jr
Solar System Imaging's Finalist - Anto:
Here's my best 2007 image of Mars:
Best regards, Antonello
Sketching Forum's Finalist - John K:
here is mars,a late night sketch.I couldnt pass up the little bit of detail that I was seeing.I live under the jet stream most of the time so when I saw mars this good ... well here you go.
Good Luck to all our finalists!
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Beginning Imaging's Finalist - Jeff J.:
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Film Astrophotography's Finalist - RALF_T:
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DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing's Finalist - Strgazr27:
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CCD Imaging & Processing's Finalist - DeepSpaceViews:
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Solar System Imaging's Finalist - Anto:
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Sketching Forum's Finalist - John K:
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Weston CSC:
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Cow Jazz
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 641
Loc: Toronto, Ontario
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I had to go with Witch Head; it was the one that made me go "WOW!". These are all very good, and it seems to get harder to decide the best one with each passing month. Way to go for all the entrees!
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John
NYAA, Toronto
Observatorium Orionis
XT10i w/PT (push-to)
ED80 on AZ3 or NexstarGT or LXD55
350D w/17-85 IS & 70-200 f4 L
Taylor guitar & IPod
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A East
newbie
Reged: 11/08/06
Posts: 1
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I gotta agree - Witch Head really grabs the attention.
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Alan East
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LM321
super member
Reged: 09/12/07
Posts: 165
Loc: Oregon
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I had to take a good look at all of them. They are all really nice. I did end up going with the Witch Head too. I think mainly for me anyway... it's one I haven't seen that much of.
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Larry
Orion SkyQuest XT8 8" Dob
Orion 127mm Mak
Celestron C4-R
SkyView Pro Mount
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Protheus
Vaguely offended
Reged: 09/01/07
Posts: 3721
Loc: Illinois, US
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I thought about voting for the witch-head image, but the Mars LRGB just completely blows the mind.
Chris
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"To tread the sharp edge of a sword;
to run on smooth-frozen ice,
one needs no footsteps to follow..."
"Well, people sometimes ask me 'how did you get involved in astronomy?' I said 'I got born, what's your problem?'" -- John Dobson
"In discussing the large-scale structure of the cosmos, astronomers sometimes say that space is curved, or that the universe is finite but unbounded. Whatever are they talking about?" -- Carl Sagan
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Mark Costello
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/08/05
Posts: 914
Loc: Matthews, NC, USA
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During lunch break today I read an article in a different telescope forum in which the author really trashed SCTs. So it's really nice to see two real nice pieces of work done using this type of telescope. Especially getting my attention was the photo of the Crab Nebula done with a C8. WAYTOGO!
Having said this, I too went for the Witch Head pic. The way it seems to hang in the starry field really was appealing.
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Mark Costello
Matthews, NC
Wife, son, three daughters, two dogs, ... and
Souped up & Tuned Burgess 102mm refractor on a CG5 & Celestron 7X35's
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Opticalman
member
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 20
Loc: New England
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Yeah the Witch head grabs the attention alright, but a lot of times the difference in some of these photos comes right down to the equipment being used. I mean if you let the beginning Imaging Finalist - Jeff use the Takahashi FSQ-106ED, instead of an 8" SCT with an f 6.3 focal reducer the shots might have been a lot harder to call. Very good job for a newbie to the field, especially allowing for the equipment used! Jeff you've won my vote!
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8"f/6 Newt Royce mirror
CR 150 on Atlas MT
Celestron/Vixen 102mm achromatic doublet
BRANDON 94mm f/7 triplet original owner
And a few more.
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iblis
admirer of the sky
Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 2237
Loc: Germany
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the witch head is so clear and vividly - it's my favourite 
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Grüße von Iblis
The Universe is not only queerer than we imagine; it is queerer than we CAN imagine.
(Haldane)
and here I observe that universe
The sky is my heaven !**********  ********
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outsider2222
newbie
Reged: 08/21/07
Posts: 1
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The Witchhead is very beautiful (but has been done before) , but the detail on the Mars shot must be record-breaking (in my opinion ), I vote for Mars photo ..
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Michelle Stone
Vendor (Plettstone Telescopes)
Reged: 04/13/04
Posts: 82
Loc: CA, USA (near Yosemitie)
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I went with the sketch. This is almost a lost art and the subtleties in this image are quite wonderful.
Michelle
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Michelle Stone
http://www.plettstone.com
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bsmart
journeyman
Reged: 12/15/04
Posts: 7
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Mars for me!
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lances
newbie
Reged: 10/11/07
Posts: 1
Loc: Florida
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The Witchhead Is great. It's the clearest i've ever seen.
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mike33
newbie
Reged: 06/10/07
Posts: 1
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The Mars sketching is my favourite. There are tons of excellent photographs of Deep Sky and of planetary objects using lots of technical equipment. But a telescope, a pencil and a sheet of paper only ... That is really wonderful!
Mike (who is an old astrophotographer)
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ericjacob613
Photon Hog
Reged: 05/25/07
Posts: 2620
Loc: Santa Barbara CA
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I like the first Crab, with the red lightning in it.
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http://www.cheapskate-astro.net
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cabissi
journeyman
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 7
Loc: Kimberton, PA, U.S.A.
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There is virtue to all of these entries. After all that is why they are here.
But the Witches Head has my vote! It has great clarity and extension. The subtleties of the coloration are as good as I have seen. This is also not done all that much because it is so hard to get. Nice work on it! 
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Chris A.
Dark Horse Observatory
Kimberton, PA
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Happy-Idiot
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/06/06
Posts: 1447
Loc: 3rd Rock
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Brian
A small scope that gets used often is a better investment than a big scope that stays in the closet.
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prueter
newbie
Reged: 05/27/07
Posts: 2
Loc: Ohio
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I voted for the drawing of Mars. It requires a great deal of observing skill which goes unnoticed unless someone has actually sat and observed for concentrated moments. I was impressed with the drawing. For his mind had to compile the layers of views picked up by the eyes, carefully note them and make trhe composite we see.
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Kelley
member
Reged: 11/27/07
Posts: 27
Loc: North GA
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Witch Head for me. I went through them all and didn't read anything at first. I just wanted to look at them all first and then recall in my memory which one stood out the best and why. The rest of them look like any other picture you would see on any site that has astronomy pictures. The Witch Head Nebula stood out in my memory and I was intrigued by seeing it.
I am a novice, so I cannot comment on the equipment used or what "has been done before", but I was just basing my vote on the most memorable.
PS - Brian -- I like your quote very much!
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Kelley
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guydickinson
journeyman
Reged: 02/17/06
Posts: 5
Loc: Dorset. UK.
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Thought the Witch Head is excellent but ended voting for the 'Beginning' finalist. All excellent as usual!
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nitrohepcat
member
Reged: 12/04/07
Posts: 30
Loc: Milwaukee, WI
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Great Sketch. I also saw two polar caps, but your sketch is much better than mine. Great Job!
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- don't forget to have fun!
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Awesomelenny
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/04
Posts: 2241
Loc: NE Ohio
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I loved the Crab shots but for reasons that Mars looked so "alive" I voted for that image! They are all so superb!
Great work by all!
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Len
14" f/10 Meade LX200R
Losmandy Titan; G-11; G-8, all w/Gemini
127mm Astro_Tech ED APO
4" f/15 Model 166 Unitron with UNIWITT Pier
4" f/15 Model 152 Unitron
Televue Genesis SDF 101mm f/5.4
Coronado Solarmax 90
All in a "Backyard Observatory"
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
Psalm 19:1
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DugDog
super member
Reged: 12/19/07
Posts: 548
Loc: Temecula, Ca. USA
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Witch Head! Excellent Photo FTW!
DD
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Celestron CPC 800 XLT
20 X 80 Binoculars.
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w orchid
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/23/07
Posts: 549
Loc: Tampa, Fl
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I thought the witch head shot is breath taking, but the images of Mars are superb.
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Celestron C8 orange tube circa 1982
Stellarvue SV102ED
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svreno
newbie
Reged: 07/12/07
Posts: 1
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Witch Head really is something "out of this world"; great job all!
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dvb
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 1624
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I was also very struck by the Witch's Head, but the Mars shot is especially remarkable for an Earth-bound amateur.
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I'll take one of each, please:
Antares 10" f/5 Dob w/SkyCommander
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Newt on Matilda
Celestron 8" SCT
Meade 8" SN f/4
Celestron C6 SCT
Skywatcher ED100 f/9
Skywatcher ED80 f/7.5
EQ6 Pro "Matilda"
Skymaster 15x70
Minolta 10x50
Mallincam HyperColor Plus
Speco 9" CRT
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Gendo
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/12/05
Posts: 3230
Loc: Rexburg, ID
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Great shots all around, but in my opinion, Anto's shot is the best. 
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johangw
member
Reged: 10/10/07
Posts: 64
Loc: Netherlands/Belgium
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The Witchhead is my favorite
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Discovery 17,5 f4,1 TD (on order)
Orion Optics 150mm F11 GP-E
LS60THaDS50/B1200/C(on order)
31mm Nag, Meade 8.8 UWA
TV Paracorr, TV Big-Barlow
Canon 400D
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Ido Oosterveld
newbie
Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 1
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I vote the sketch too, because everybody can do it, and some reach beautifull results!
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ADS-Netphen
newbie
Reged: 11/19/06
Posts: 2
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For each they are all great.
I made the decision of the best handmade work. Therefore I choose Anto's Mars : Those very small details and the precision of putting slightly angle-differences together, was most impressing.
Carsten
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Viele Grüße
Carsten Moos
Antares Dachsternwarte Netphen, Germany
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boogie
member
Reged: 04/30/07
Posts: 63
Loc: Israel
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As always, great job from everyone, but my vote goes to anto.
By far, the best amateur LRGB of Mars I've EVER seen.
The detail just blows my mind ...
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"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."
"It's at times like this, when I'm stuck in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelegeuse about to die of asphyxiation in deep space, that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother told me when I was little."
"Why, what did she tell you?"
"I don't know, I didn't listen!"
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L.A. Rob
member
Reged: 12/15/07
Posts: 97
Loc: 33.9310°N, 117.5480°W
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All so awesome!!! Congrats to all the finalists!!! WOW!! 
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Celestron Nexstar 130 SLT
Don't Blink, you might miss something!!! -L.A. Rob
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gregmartin
newbie
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1
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Wow. There isn't an image here I don't like!
Well done to all those who have demonstrated such wonderful talent.
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Golden_Morgan
newbie
Reged: 09/30/07
Posts: 2
Loc: Italy
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Mars for me! So detailed it seems so close... 
Edited by Golden_Morgan (01/10/08 06:41 AM)
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