Mike Chartrand

Mike ChartrandSymposium ProjectAstronomy 134Professor Katie J. Berryhill

My name is Mike. I am a Space Studies major at AMU. After over a decade of wishing, I have finally gotten the chance to be bitten by the amateur astronomy bug!

The sky is filled with endless wonders to see and there is no better way to share them than with pictures!

My Portable Observatory

Celestron Nexstar 5SENexImage 5 ImagerPower Tank HP LaptopAnd most importantly **A Comfy Chair**

As a beginner, I am still working on my photography & processing skills- So I have been focusing mainly on capturing images from right here in the solar system

Our Closest Neighbor

Just Past the Asteroid Belt

Jupiter- My Very First Planet Images

Not the best shots- But enough to have me looking forward to more practice next year!

Although seeing & imaging the Moon and Jupiter is cool, every amateur astronomer will tell you that nothing compares to the excitement of seeing Saturn for the very first time

First Decent Image of SaturnMarch 16th, 2013 @ 11:55pm

Second AttemptNearly at OppositionApril 24th, 2013 @ 10:00pm

1,400 of 4,500 FramesStacked Using Registax 5

Final Processed Image

Beyond our solar system, there are literally billions of stars, clusters, galaxies, nebulae; and other such beauties and wonderments known as Deep Space Objects, (DSOs)

I am not currently equipped to photograph DSOs. However, the online-accessible Micro Observatory telescope is!

The Micro Observatory telescope array takes photographs using monochrome (black & white) cameras; which utilize Red, Green and Blue (RGB-filtered) exposures for full color stacked images.

Messier 8 (The Lagoon Nebula)M8 is a star-forming region, 4,100 light years away in the constellation Sagittarius. I chose this target because even though my imager is unable to photograph this DSO; it is currently in prime viewing position and an absolutely beautiful sight to see through the eyepiece of my telescope!

M8 (The RGB Images)Upon my first request to the Micro Observatory array, only the green and blue images of M8 came out. After two additional requests for a red-filtered image; I finally had all three in hand!

M8 (RED)

Telescope Name: DonaldLocation: Amado, ArizonaCamera: MainDate/Time: May 12, 2013 @ 3:06:25amFilter: RedExposure Time: 60.00secFocus Value: 1800Zoom: OutTarget Altitude: 33 degreesTarget Azimuth: 179 degrees

M8 (GREEN)Telescope Name: DonaldLocation: Amado, ArizonaCamera: MainDate/Time: May 10, 2013 @ 3:15:24amFilter: GreenExposure Time: 60.00secFocus Value: 1800Zoom: OutTarget Altitude: 33 degreesTarget Azimuth: 180 degrees

M8 (BLUE)Telescope Name: DonaldLocation: Amado, ArizonaCamera: MainDate/Time: May 10, 2013 @ 3:18:25amFilter: GreenExposure Time: 60.00secFocus Value: 1800Zoom: OutTarget Altitude: 33 degreesTarget Azimuth: 180 degrees

M8 RGB images stacked using the Micro Observatory software

M8 RGB IMAGES STACKED

Stack of single 60sec R,G & B images taken with Micro Observatory CCD Camera.

Due to demand, targets are only allotted single 1-minute exposures at fairly high gain levels.

End result is a very noisy final photograph!

Albeit, the Micro Observatory is an excellent tool to familiarize students with RGB astrophotography!

Same image- After a little bit of extra post-processing in Photoshop

It would be all too easy to Google a jaw-dropping image of M8 taken by Hubble or any number of other professional telescopes

So I will conclude with a personal touch!

Shortly, you will see an absolutely STUNNING picture of M8 taken by a guy named Joe from his California back yard on the weekend of May 11th/12th, 2013.

Seeing pictures like his is what drives me to peer deeper into the heavens

Joes Image Specifics10 @ 3 mins lights4 @3 mins darksOrion Star Shoot G3 Color William Optics Megrez 90 mm Doublet refractorCelestron CG5 ASGT Orion 80mm ST w/ Orion Auto GuiderProcessed in Orion Camera Suite, PaintShop Pro X5 with Star Spikes Plug in

**Although Joe used a color CCD camera, note he still used a higher number of shots at longer exposures of lights/darks for his final image. This is key to capturing as much detail as possible.

The results speak for themselves

Referenceshttp://www.astronomyforum.net/ccd-imaging-forum/160682-m8-lagoon-nebula.html

Special ThanksFirst and foremost- To my wonderful Fiance, Tabatha for her love and support; and for fulfilling my dream of being able to see into the cosmosTo Joe Colo for graciously granting me permission to use his beautiful M8 image for this presentationTo Professor Katie Berryhill for the great instruction; and most of all for the opportunity to do a project that parallels my new-found passion for amateur astronomy!To the ladies & gentlemen of www.astronomyforum.net for the endless supply of tips, tricks, advice & knowledge!Finally- To my classmates for the great discussions & interaction. Our 16 weeks is almost up- I enjoyed working with each and every one of you- Best of luck in all you do!

CLEAR SKIES!!!

**Mike**