Ben's Astro Stuff 🇺🇦
@bensastrostuff.com
New space photos whenever the sky is dark, clear, the equipment is working, and I have time and energy. :P
#astrophotography #astronomy #space #stars #nightsky #milkyway #universe #astro #astrophoto #cosmos #telescope #nebula #deepsky #stargazing
#astrophotography #astronomy #space #stars #nightsky #milkyway #universe #astro #astrophoto #cosmos #telescope #nebula #deepsky #stargazing
Reposted by Ben's Astro Stuff 🇺🇦
Life Hack: Tracking the phases of the Moon or following planetary transits encourages discipline and focus on long-term goals. It also drives home how little time we have in this life so make the most of it!
October 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Life Hack: Tracking the phases of the Moon or following planetary transits encourages discipline and focus on long-term goals. It also drives home how little time we have in this life so make the most of it!
Wow! I was able to work on my 🔭 tonight, and get it all back together. My OnStep board is working great! On top of that, after a quick collimation, I now have ROUND STARS in the corners of my images. No more bats! 🤣
I have a couple more things to do before I can image again, but this is great! 1/3
I have a couple more things to do before I can image again, but this is great! 1/3
October 28, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Wow! I was able to work on my 🔭 tonight, and get it all back together. My OnStep board is working great! On top of that, after a quick collimation, I now have ROUND STARS in the corners of my images. No more bats! 🤣
I have a couple more things to do before I can image again, but this is great! 1/3
I have a couple more things to do before I can image again, but this is great! 1/3
I'm trying to get some astro stuff 🔭 done tonight. I haven't been able to do anything for over a month now. As the days get shorter, I need this hobby to keep my sanity and keep the seasonal depression at bay. 🧵
October 26, 2025 at 12:45 AM
I'm trying to get some astro stuff 🔭 done tonight. I haven't been able to do anything for over a month now. As the days get shorter, I need this hobby to keep my sanity and keep the seasonal depression at bay. 🧵
I haven't been able to do very much astro stuff because of work. However I was able to attend a couple of days at the Black Forest Star Party at Cherry Springs State Park earlier this month. I did some #astrophotography but haven't had time to process. Here are some pictures from my phone. 🙂
September 30, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I haven't been able to do very much astro stuff because of work. However I was able to attend a couple of days at the Black Forest Star Party at Cherry Springs State Park earlier this month. I did some #astrophotography but haven't had time to process. Here are some pictures from my phone. 🙂
I've finally processed & published my image of #M16 the #Eagle #Nebula! This was my summer project, plagued by rain, clouds, bugs, & malfunctions. I had to toss much of the data, but what was left made this. Not too shabby! 🔭
More info and high quality on my AstroBin Page:
app.astrobin.com/i/bf9nmg
More info and high quality on my AstroBin Page:
app.astrobin.com/i/bf9nmg
![M16 - Eagle Nebula [In SHO]
by BensAstroStuff
Published: Aug 13, 2025
Total integration: 8h 18m
Integration per filter:
- Hα: 2h 32m (76 × 120")
- SII: 2h 44m (82 × 120")
- OIII: 3h 2m (91 × 120")
Equipment:
- Telescope: Sky-Watcher Quattro 200P
- Camera: ZWO ASI294MM Pro
- Mount: Orion Atlas EQ-G
- Filters: Optolong H-Alpha 7nm 2", Optolong OIII 6.5nm 2", Optolong SII 6.5nm 2"
- Accessories: Sky-Watcher Quattro Coma Corrector, ZWO EAF, ZWO EFW 7 x 2″, ZWO OAG (Off-Axis Guider)
- Software: GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), INDI Library Ekos, KDEdu KStars, Nikita Misiura StarNet, Open PHD Guiding Project PHD2, SetiAstro CosmicClarity, Siril Team Siril, Steffen Hirtle GraXpert
For more information, visit AstroBin:
https://app.astrobin.com/i/bf9nmg](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:c54yp6j2vmescoj54wmbqj5f/bafkreieckudlm5njy6x3jw2wrzxcy2qel6an5sgw2up742zgduh3tgq6lu@jpeg)
August 13, 2025 at 7:56 AM
I've finally processed & published my image of #M16 the #Eagle #Nebula! This was my summer project, plagued by rain, clouds, bugs, & malfunctions. I had to toss much of the data, but what was left made this. Not too shabby! 🔭
More info and high quality on my AstroBin Page:
app.astrobin.com/i/bf9nmg
More info and high quality on my AstroBin Page:
app.astrobin.com/i/bf9nmg
@siril.org released 1.4-beta3 a few days ago!
siril.org/download/202...
I helped by reporting on and testing the fix for bug \#1562, which caused a crash when trying to compose an image from RGB channels. :)
It's a great tool for #astrophotography 🔭
siril.org/download/202...
I helped by reporting on and testing the fix for bug \#1562, which caused a crash when trying to compose an image from RGB channels. :)
It's a great tool for #astrophotography 🔭
Siril 1.4.0 Beta 3
Introduction
Bugs fixed in beta 3
Stability and robustness
Python scripts and programming interface
Alignment
User interface and display
Other fixes
...
siril.org
July 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
@siril.org released 1.4-beta3 a few days ago!
siril.org/download/202...
I helped by reporting on and testing the fix for bug \#1562, which caused a crash when trying to compose an image from RGB channels. :)
It's a great tool for #astrophotography 🔭
siril.org/download/202...
I helped by reporting on and testing the fix for bug \#1562, which caused a crash when trying to compose an image from RGB channels. :)
It's a great tool for #astrophotography 🔭
This past weekend I was at the Cherry Springs Start Party. There was a single night that was good for astrophotography, and I acquired enough data to create this image of the Crescent Nebula. 🔭
Full resolution and acquisition details on my Astrobin page:
app.astrobin.com/i/kejtxh
Full resolution and acquisition details on my Astrobin page:
app.astrobin.com/i/kejtxh
June 25, 2025 at 5:44 AM
This past weekend I was at the Cherry Springs Start Party. There was a single night that was good for astrophotography, and I acquired enough data to create this image of the Crescent Nebula. 🔭
Full resolution and acquisition details on my Astrobin page:
app.astrobin.com/i/kejtxh
Full resolution and acquisition details on my Astrobin page:
app.astrobin.com/i/kejtxh
Absolutely fascinating. I've explained to people the size and scale of things in the images that I take, but Seven Machina does the math.
Space is mind-bogglingly huge.
Space is mind-bogglingly huge.
May 28, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Absolutely fascinating. I've explained to people the size and scale of things in the images that I take, but Seven Machina does the math.
Space is mind-bogglingly huge.
Space is mind-bogglingly huge.
This is the beginning of my next major project. I expect it's going to take a few months. 🔭
The Eagle Nebula. This is only 90 minutes of luminance.
My previous image of this target was three years ago, and can be found here: app.astrobin.com/i/ob5rlv
The Eagle Nebula. This is only 90 minutes of luminance.
My previous image of this target was three years ago, and can be found here: app.astrobin.com/i/ob5rlv
May 26, 2025 at 3:17 AM
This is the beginning of my next major project. I expect it's going to take a few months. 🔭
The Eagle Nebula. This is only 90 minutes of luminance.
My previous image of this target was three years ago, and can be found here: app.astrobin.com/i/ob5rlv
The Eagle Nebula. This is only 90 minutes of luminance.
My previous image of this target was three years ago, and can be found here: app.astrobin.com/i/ob5rlv
New image! I finally found enough free time over the past couple of weeks to process my images of M31, the Whirlpool Galaxy. 🔭
Full Resolution and capture information: app.astrobin.com/i/g7if5a
Full Resolution and capture information: app.astrobin.com/i/g7if5a
May 11, 2025 at 4:22 AM
New image! I finally found enough free time over the past couple of weeks to process my images of M31, the Whirlpool Galaxy. 🔭
Full Resolution and capture information: app.astrobin.com/i/g7if5a
Full Resolution and capture information: app.astrobin.com/i/g7if5a
I have a lot of data on M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) but unfortunately work has blown up and I haven't had time to process anything.
I hope that next week I'll have some time to do so. 🔭
Also, would anybody be interested in watching me stream either acquisition or processing sessions? I'm curious.
I hope that next week I'll have some time to do so. 🔭
Also, would anybody be interested in watching me stream either acquisition or processing sessions? I'm curious.
May 2, 2025 at 11:08 AM
I have a lot of data on M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) but unfortunately work has blown up and I haven't had time to process anything.
I hope that next week I'll have some time to do so. 🔭
Also, would anybody be interested in watching me stream either acquisition or processing sessions? I'm curious.
I hope that next week I'll have some time to do so. 🔭
Also, would anybody be interested in watching me stream either acquisition or processing sessions? I'm curious.
Hopefully the last of these thin clouds are gone before I start imaging tonight. 🔭
April 28, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Hopefully the last of these thin clouds are gone before I start imaging tonight. 🔭
So I'm imaging M51 tonight, and this just happened in one of my sub-frames. You can make out the tail of an airplane, lit up by it's own lights. 🔭
April 18, 2025 at 1:46 AM
So I'm imaging M51 tonight, and this just happened in one of my sub-frames. You can make out the tail of an airplane, lit up by it's own lights. 🔭
Ok folks, this is a big one. The first fully integrated image from my new imaging setup. Over 13 hours of M101, LRGB. 🔭
It's not as perfect, but a great start!
I also got some Hα data, but I didn't integrate that. I might make a Rev-B in the future to include it.
app.astrobin.com/i/g3h77y
It's not as perfect, but a great start!
I also got some Hα data, but I didn't integrate that. I might make a Rev-B in the future to include it.
app.astrobin.com/i/g3h77y
M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy - AstroBin
My first fully integrated image from my new setup.
The faint lines are not satilites, but rather difraction spikes from stars outside the field of view. I'm going to come up with a solution to fix th...
app.astrobin.com
March 28, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Ok folks, this is a big one. The first fully integrated image from my new imaging setup. Over 13 hours of M101, LRGB. 🔭
It's not as perfect, but a great start!
I also got some Hα data, but I didn't integrate that. I might make a Rev-B in the future to include it.
app.astrobin.com/i/g3h77y
It's not as perfect, but a great start!
I also got some Hα data, but I didn't integrate that. I might make a Rev-B in the future to include it.
app.astrobin.com/i/g3h77y
It's cloudy, so I'm using the time to take calibration frames.
March 26, 2025 at 1:33 AM
It's cloudy, so I'm using the time to take calibration frames.
Reposted by Ben's Astro Stuff 🇺🇦
Whoa: The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter spacecraft got a spectacular view of Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) as it passed close to the Sun. Look at that enormous, splintered tail!
This comet won't be seen again for another 600,000 years. 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
This comet won't be seen again for another 600,000 years. 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
March 22, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Whoa: The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter spacecraft got a spectacular view of Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) as it passed close to the Sun. Look at that enormous, splintered tail!
This comet won't be seen again for another 600,000 years. 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
This comet won't be seen again for another 600,000 years. 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
Let's gooooooo!
🔭👍
🔭👍
March 21, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Let's gooooooo!
🔭👍
🔭👍
The Horsehead & Flame nebula in Oiii.
Trying to get as many subs as possible before the moon comes up and washes it out. This is a single 5min sub-frame.🔭
Trying to get as many subs as possible before the moon comes up and washes it out. This is a single 5min sub-frame.🔭
March 19, 2025 at 3:10 AM
The Horsehead & Flame nebula in Oiii.
Trying to get as many subs as possible before the moon comes up and washes it out. This is a single 5min sub-frame.🔭
Trying to get as many subs as possible before the moon comes up and washes it out. This is a single 5min sub-frame.🔭
Clouds and rain all weekend. I won't be able to do any imaging. 😢🔭
There may be some clear nights this coming week, but that means trading sleep for it. I've done that plenty of times. We'll see.
There may be some clear nights this coming week, but that means trading sleep for it. I've done that plenty of times. We'll see.
March 16, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Clouds and rain all weekend. I won't be able to do any imaging. 😢🔭
There may be some clear nights this coming week, but that means trading sleep for it. I've done that plenty of times. We'll see.
There may be some clear nights this coming week, but that means trading sleep for it. I've done that plenty of times. We'll see.
Want to see something kinda cool?
Here's my mount slewing from park to the horse-head (previous post), with the dome rotating to follow it. 🔭
The dome is an old 8ft ExploraDome, and the rotating motor is from NexDome, which I modified to work with it.
Here's my mount slewing from park to the horse-head (previous post), with the dome rotating to follow it. 🔭
The dome is an old 8ft ExploraDome, and the rotating motor is from NexDome, which I modified to work with it.
March 14, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Want to see something kinda cool?
Here's my mount slewing from park to the horse-head (previous post), with the dome rotating to follow it. 🔭
The dome is an old 8ft ExploraDome, and the rotating motor is from NexDome, which I modified to work with it.
Here's my mount slewing from park to the horse-head (previous post), with the dome rotating to follow it. 🔭
The dome is an old 8ft ExploraDome, and the rotating motor is from NexDome, which I modified to work with it.
I'm so happy to have finally gotten to this point.
First Light image from my new setup!
I'll make another post with some details about what it took to get here when I get time. It's been a slog, but so worth it.
Just look at it! 🔭
app.astrobin.com/i/h3x8r2
First Light image from my new setup!
I'll make another post with some details about what it took to get here when I get time. It's been a slog, but so worth it.
Just look at it! 🔭
app.astrobin.com/i/h3x8r2
Horsehead in Ha - First Light - AstroBin
This is my first real image with my new equipment.
New: Telescope, Camera, Filter Wheel, Off-Axis Guider, and the Observatory Dome is working! :)
This image is Hydrogen Alpha only, and 50 minutes of ...
app.astrobin.com
March 13, 2025 at 3:59 AM
I'm so happy to have finally gotten to this point.
First Light image from my new setup!
I'll make another post with some details about what it took to get here when I get time. It's been a slog, but so worth it.
Just look at it! 🔭
app.astrobin.com/i/h3x8r2
First Light image from my new setup!
I'll make another post with some details about what it took to get here when I get time. It's been a slog, but so worth it.
Just look at it! 🔭
app.astrobin.com/i/h3x8r2
🔭 I've learned a lot about collimating this particular Newtonian in the past few days. It's quite a pill. I'm using an Ocal collimating camera, and an open source project called CollimationCircles. It had some issues. I ended up dismantling the CNC spider and realigning the focuser. 🧵1/4
March 6, 2025 at 3:12 PM
🔭 I've learned a lot about collimating this particular Newtonian in the past few days. It's quite a pill. I'm using an Ocal collimating camera, and an open source project called CollimationCircles. It had some issues. I ended up dismantling the CNC spider and realigning the focuser. 🧵1/4
So... two things.
First, in my last post I misremembered how bad my declination backlash was. I thought it was 2000ms... it was MUCH worse: almost 8000ms. Tonight I was able to test test again after the mount rebuild and it's 2130ms. That can be managed.
Second: Here is the before/after graph. 🔭
First, in my last post I misremembered how bad my declination backlash was. I thought it was 2000ms... it was MUCH worse: almost 8000ms. Tonight I was able to test test again after the mount rebuild and it's 2130ms. That can be managed.
Second: Here is the before/after graph. 🔭
March 3, 2025 at 12:02 AM
So... two things.
First, in my last post I misremembered how bad my declination backlash was. I thought it was 2000ms... it was MUCH worse: almost 8000ms. Tonight I was able to test test again after the mount rebuild and it's 2130ms. That can be managed.
Second: Here is the before/after graph. 🔭
First, in my last post I misremembered how bad my declination backlash was. I thought it was 2000ms... it was MUCH worse: almost 8000ms. Tonight I was able to test test again after the mount rebuild and it's 2130ms. That can be managed.
Second: Here is the before/after graph. 🔭
This was the sky tonight. The crescent moon and Venus.
I did get my telescope and mount back together. I was able to guide at ~0.65" RMS. I was not able to do a lot of testing, but the dec backlash seems to be greatly reduced. Hopefully tomorrow night I'll be able to fully test it. 🔭
I did get my telescope and mount back together. I was able to guide at ~0.65" RMS. I was not able to do a lot of testing, but the dec backlash seems to be greatly reduced. Hopefully tomorrow night I'll be able to fully test it. 🔭
March 2, 2025 at 2:34 AM
This was the sky tonight. The crescent moon and Venus.
I did get my telescope and mount back together. I was able to guide at ~0.65" RMS. I was not able to do a lot of testing, but the dec backlash seems to be greatly reduced. Hopefully tomorrow night I'll be able to fully test it. 🔭
I did get my telescope and mount back together. I was able to guide at ~0.65" RMS. I was not able to do a lot of testing, but the dec backlash seems to be greatly reduced. Hopefully tomorrow night I'll be able to fully test it. 🔭