You don't need a telescope

Madweasel wrote in post #15535377
It certainly is, but the answer to your question is simply focal length: 500mm + 2x extender = 1000mm. The aeroplane is further away than you might think.

And just a bit of cropping (doesn't take much at 1000mm). That's some amazing IQ for having a 2x extender!

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #15535176
I kinda got photo bombed by Southwest.

Jay, you had to have set that up. Is it really just accidental? Great shot, BTW.

Almost a year ago in this thread I posted this image made from a stack of 9 exposures of varying length and ISO setting, using the 100-400L at 400mm on the 7D, and using my very rudimentary processing skills.

Madweasel wrote in post #15536282
Almost a year ago in this thread I posted this image made from a stack of 9 exposures of varying length and ISO setting, using the 100-400L at 400mm on the 7D, and using my very rudimentary processing skills.

Over Christmas I spent a lot of time trying to improve those processing skills and now I've revisited the same stack to see how much better I could do with it. Here is the final result, and I'm much more pleased with it. Although the galaxies don't quite knock you out the same, they actually show more detail, the vignetting is very much reduced, the sky looks more natural, and best of all I've got colour in both the stars and in M82. Comparing against Wikisky I reckon the very faintest stars I've picked up are mag 15.8.

Very nice! Did you use some type of autotracking device?

Thanks Steve, yes it's the one I showed in post #1244, that I used for that Andromeda galaxy shot.

Madweasel wrote in post #15536759
Thanks Steve, yes it's the one I showed in post #1244, that I used for that Andromeda galaxy shot.

Oh....ok...didn't realize (remember) you were the same person as in #1244. In that case...your work continues to amaze me! And I really need to get me a tracking device!!!!!

StillCrazy wrote in post #15535653
Jay, you had to have set that up. Is it really just accidental? Great shot, BTW.

Thanks...

Yeah, obviously an Ephemeris told me when and where the moon would rise but, there's still no absolutes. A break in departures would have let the moon slip across the departure path untouched.

As it was, only seven aircraft could frame with the moon, only five even touched the moon's disc and only two centered up completely. It was still a fleeting opportunity.

My apologies to the regulars here for my lame attempt at humor. Still, it was a good looking moon and it was without a telescope.

The photography here is, well, stellar and it's always fun to come and lurk.

No apology needed. The regulars here probably have a better idea how hard it is to get such a shot. It's an excellent result.

Steve.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #15536819
Thanks...

Yeah, obviously an Ephemeris told me when and where the moon would rise but, there's still no absolutes. A break in departures would have let the moon slip across the departure path untouched.

As it was, only seven aircraft could frame with the moon, only five even touched the moon's disc and only two centered up completely. It was still a fleeting opportunity.

My apologies to the regulars here for my lame attempt at humor. Still, it was a good looking moon and it was without a telescope.

The photography here is, well, stellar and it's always fun to come and lurk.

That is a valuable lesson to any aspiring photog, pro or otherwise. Plan your shot, and shoot your plan. Make it happen, rather than hope it happens.

Love your work on Facebook. Next time I fly into Sky Harbor, I'll give you advance warning, and I'll wave.

Ok I went out tonight in nearly the worst "shootable" conditions. Full Moon, high clouds, and red zone light pollution make conditions very poor. I was trying to show a new guy he could get some AP shots with little extra equipment. These have to be the shortest lights ever, 2 sec in the first, and 1 sec lights in the second. Definitely my easiest setup and take down in a long time.

These are with a Hap Griffin Modded T2i with Astronomik CCD-CLS light pollution filter on a tripod

The first is:
50 x 2 second lights 100mm f/2.2 1600iso
10 darks

That second one is pretty amazing for 1-second lights. I guess having a modded camera must help a fair bit there.

Madweasel wrote in post #15538761
I guess having a modded camera must help a fair bit there.

yeah it helps big time with the reds. I'd never have seen the Horsehead without the mod with 2 sec subs. It was kind of fun to do. I was trying to explain how to do it, and figured I'd just go do it myself. I started at 50mm and there was just to much light from the Moon.

luigis wrote in post #15476828
Canon 60Da, 400mm F5.6 lens, Astrotrac Mount.
42 shots of 1 minute each at F6.3 ISO1600

No telescope involved!

You did that with a 60Da and an Astrotrac? Astrotrac needs to pay you a sales commission. I've got a 60Da and I like it but I sure never tried anything like that

Mike6158 wrote in post #15544438
You did that with a 60Da and an Astrotrac? Astrotrac needs to pay you a sales commission. I've got a 60Da and I like it but I sure never tried anything like that

Thank you! The 60Da is great since you have one you just need an Astrotrac

And now where is my commission? Poor Luigi....

Canon 5DMKII Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ISO1600 f/2.8 50 seconds

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …imagecarolina/8​443658274/