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astrophotography tour





This session is only run on clear moonless nights and is the final session of the evening.

You can take images of Deep Sky Objects, Planets (when visible), and constellations in this session.
We also view some of these objects through telescopes.

You will need to bring a standard SD card and a usb thumb drive (unused please). We have SD cards for sale here if you don't have one. If you have a cable that connects your camera to our computer that would be advantageous for us to tweak the images to get the most out of them and we copy them to your usb drive.

You can bring your own DSLR camera that is compatible through our telescopes.
Alternatively use our Canon RA mirrorless camera which is designed especially for astronomical imaging and is superior to most other DSLR cameras. You need to bring or purchase a standard SD card to use in our camera.
Or you can use a combination of your camera and our camera.

Deep Sky Objects:
We can take images of Emission Nebulae, Planetary Nebulae, Open Star Clusters, Globular Clusters, comets, and galaxies.
Which objects we can do depends on the time of the year but we provide an up to date list below of what we can choose from.
We use the large 17 inch Planewave telescope for most of the imaging. We have also just acquired a new high quality Takahashi FSQ106EDX4 refractor for wider field objects. This is only compatible with canon cameras at present. Bring an SD card and you can use our camera if you have another brand of camera.

Planets:
Planets are difficult to photograph and don't work well with DSLR cameras.
We use our planetary video camera and reduce that video to an image of the planet for you.
You will need to bring a usb thumb drive for a copy of the video and image.
Planets are not always visible in the sky and if they are, they need to be high in the sky to get a reasonable image.

Constellations:
We can take an image of a constellation of your choice or region of the sky. You need to bring a suitable wide angle lens. Alternatively you can use our camera.
With our camera or your canon camera we can fit our fisheye lens to take an allsky image.

Compatible cameras for our 17 inch planewave telescope and 3" refractor are
canon eos cameras.
canon mirrorless camera R range but requires the adapter to fit the eos lenses.
Nikon DSLR cameras where the lens can be removed.
Sony DSLR cameras
Sony mirrorless cameras

The telescopes used are our Planewave 17" telescope and we now have a very high quality Takahashi FSQ 106EDX4 refractor to use. The Takahashi is only compatible with camera cameras at present. If you are using another brand we can use a similar 3" refractor or bring a SD card to use the Takahashi

The quality of the images depends on the quality of the sensor in your camera
Your camera needs to be fairly modern, best not to be more than 5 years old.
Full frame cameras are better but it is ok for the cropped view.
It also depends on the seeing of the night. Some nights are better than others but is hard to pick in advance.
It also depends on how high the object is in the sky. The higher in the sky the object is, the better the image.
We only run the session when the Moon is not visible to give better contrast to the images.

The length of the show depends on what equipment you bring.
If you use our camera it will go for 2 hours.
If you have a canon camera , with an EF fitting we can fit our lenses to it, the show can go for 2 hours.
If you have another brand camera we just take photos through the telescope for 90 minutes, unless you have your own wide angle lens.

This session is available only on clear nights between 3rd Quarter Moon to First Quarter Moon.


Booking:
Tickets are purchased from iwannaticket ticketing agency/ There is a link further below.
It will only let you purchase 1 ticket. If you are bringing someone with you, you pay for the 2nd person when you arrive onsite whether they have a camera or not.



Examples Using a canon 80D DSLR Camera



(1) Eta Carina Nebula Canon 3" telescope. (2) Horsehead and Flame Nebula 3" telescope (3) Canon DSLR on 17"scope
(4) First Qtr Moon 17" Telescope (5) Orion Nebula 17" telescope (6) Milky Way Fisheye Lens



compatible cameras





We use a T-Ring with a bayonet fitting to attach to your camera body.

On the other side of the T-ring is a T2 thread where our T-adapter screws in. This then slides into the back of the telescope and secured.


Different camera brands and sometimes different models within a brand take different bayonet fittings and therefore our T-Rings are not compatible with all cameras.


The following cameras are compatible.

Canon DSLR cameras that fit an EF lens


Canon Mirrorless that have an attachment that allows an EF lens to be attached


Nikon DSLR Cameras


Pentax K DSLR Cameras


​Sony Cameras including mirrorless

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Other brands and Mirrorless cameras of various brands are not compatible with our T-rings unless you bring your own T-ring.


The T-ring needs to be able to fit our T-adapter with the T2 thread. Our telescope has a narrow focus range so only our T-adapter can be used. Your T-ring cannot be more than 1cm in diameter (ie 1cm protruding from your camera once connected.)



camera settings





We can take the photos for you or you can do it yourself.

You will need to know your camera settings well and it is best to test it before you come without the lens attached to ensure your camera can take pictures manually while the lens is not attached.

You will need a remote shutter release in order to take exposures longer than 30 seconds. Most cameras cannot take exposures longer than 30 seconds without this. We have some that fit most models of Canon (RS-60E3, RS-80N3), Nikon cameras (MC-DC2, MC-30A). Most pentax cameras are compatible with the canon RS60E3.If you have a Nikon camera, make sure it does take a remote shutter release as I have seen some that have no where to connect one. We have an old Minolta type that fits some sony models

Know how to adjust the following settings
Manual or Bulb setting
Exposure time and Bulb setting
ISO sensitivity
Mirror lock sometimes helps.
Turning on and off the rear display
Turning on and off the live view.
Enabling a remote shutter release to be functional (essential for Nikons)

If you have not familiarised yourself with your camera, much of the hour will be wasted working out your camera and time will be up with not many pictures taken.



Bookings


Click here to purchase a ticket

Times and Dates





Note the tour is not available when there is a bright Moon.

between third quarter and first quarter moon is best.


This session is held late after the telescope viewing and Premium shows are finished.

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November: 12:30am

December: 12:30am



Prices





$150 per person


10% surcharge applies on Sundays

15% surcharge applies on Public Holidays


Cancellations

To cancel, please email me at peter@dubboobservatory.com.

A refund is issued if more than 7 days' notice is given

If less than 7 days' notice is given, a refund is only issued if we can resell your ticket.

only given if we can resell your ticket.

The ticketing/credit card fee is non-refundable.


If you purchased your ticket with a gift certificate, a refund is not given but a credit note is issued so you can buy a ticket to a future session.


Bad Weather

We do not run this tour if its overcast or raining. We send a text message 45 mins prior to you on your Australian mobile phone number provided. If you don't have one, please advise us of a way of contacting you.



Objects we intend to photograph in december

A selection is made from the following objects





12:30pm


Emission Nebulae:

Tarantula Nebula

Eta Carina Nebula

Orion Nebula

Running Man Nebula

Flame Nebula

Horsehead Nebula


Planetary Nebulae

Nil


Galaxies

Silvercoin Galaxy

NGC 1365


Globular Clusters:

47 Tucanae


Open Clusters

Pleiades

Southern Beehive Cluster

Pincushion Cluster

NGC 2362


Planets:

Mars


Other

All sky photo with a canon camera showing Orion Spiral Arm.

Constellation photo of your choice if you bring a wide angle lens, e.g. Eta Carina Region.


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Enquiries: 0488 425 940

Email: peter@dubboobservatory.com