Misti Mountain Observatory - Astronomy Pages
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Total Solar Eclipse - August 21, 2017: Images and Videos
Click on a photo for a index page of eclipse images and videos
Video: Total Eclipse

Video: Total Eclipse

Video: Partial Eclipse

Video: Surroundings


Latest CCD Images (with SBIG STL-11000 CCD camera).
Click on a photo for a index page of latest images
Rho Ophiuchi Region
near Antares
m8 Region
Lagoon, Trifid, ngc6559
m24
Sagittarius Star Clouds
Barnard 72
Snake Nebula Region

Astrophotography
Click on a photo for index pages of each type of image.
Galaxies
Nebulae
Star Clusters
Solar System
7" Refractor Images
Nikon Lens Images
Film Comparison
Equipment
Observatory Site

Unprocessed Image Files
New image sets posted - December, 2016.
Available for downloading are Unprocessed FITS Image Files for a number of sets of images taken with the 32" Ritchey-Chretien telescope. There is no charge for use of this data, though it will only be of use to those who are familiar with the processing of astronomical image data. This page also has links to image comparison pages which display different versions of several of the images as processed by separate imagers.

There are also a number of image sets available which were taken with Steve Mazlin's 4" Takahashi FSQ106N from my Arizona observatory in 2006. These are listed at the bottom of the FITS file download page.

There are three image processing examples using the data available
here. The tutorials start with FITS files available here, and proceed
through all of the steps necessary to prepare a final image.
m8 - the Lagoon Nebula
m13 - Globular Cluster
m63 - the Sunflower Galaxy

Commentary
I have enjoyed amateur astronomy as an interesting and educational hobby for over 50 years. I have owned many telescopes over the years, beginning with a low-end Sears 3" Refractor in about 1960. I built a 6" Newtownian, including mirror grinding/polishing, while in high school. Soon after college I built telescopes using 12 1/2" and 17 1/2" inch mirrors from Coulter Optical, and owned a Criterion Dynamax 8.

A little over 25 years ago I bought a 30" Dobsonian made by Tectron Telescopes, and at about the same time bought a Meade 178ED 7" refractor. These were the first telescopes I used at my Northwestern Arizona location, where I built a home in 1992.

A few years later I was able to place an order for a 32" Ritchey-Chretien telescope, and it was delivered in February of 2001. The time requirements of my employment kept me from getting this instrument ready for astrophotography until March of 2003, at which time I began taking astrophotos using a 35mm camera and slide film. In May of 2004, I purchased an SBIG STL-11000m ccd camera, and used it with the 32" scope until 2006.

I no longer have the 32" RC scope or the 7" refractor, and haven't done any imaging since 2006.

I currently have a Meade ETX125 scope and a Coronado 90 solar scope, which I take out on occasion in my back yard in eastern Pennsylvania.

- Jim Misti
Misti Mountain Observatory contact: astronomy1 {at} mistisoftware.com

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Site last updated: December 11, 2016