Steve Paxton's photos with the keyword: Space

Tarantula Nebula NGC2070

07 Oct 2025 12 10 57
This is a shot I took 2019 one of my very first nikon camera and a zoom lens on the tracker. Once I got a bit further into the world of deep space I was able to see it a whole lot better and capture an image that really showed this area up.. I took this as a photographer, The way I did this, Ha 300sec 100 shots 120sec 50 shots, Oiii 300sec 100 shots 50 shots 120sec and as Sii is not as bright as Ha Oiii I went to 160 shots 300sec. This was made possible as I found out you can stack as one quite a few exposure time as long as you have a differential figure between then as part of the Exeptions when stacking. I am happy the way that this came out you see the detail of all the tendrils in this part of space. I have combined this as the Hubble pallet Sii Ha Oiii with RGB stars so they look nore natural.I have chosen to make the stars a touch smaller so the nebulosity show up more rather than a blown out star fest.. This is the bright dot in the shot below next to the Large Magellanic Cloud. QHY268M -10c 5 min and other times each filter over 5 nights , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure. QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO ZWOCAA rotator MeLE Mini PC Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned SVbony 50MM Guide scope QHY5L-II-M Guide camera Guided PHD2, Nina Pixinsight, Ps

Small Magellanic Cloud & 47 Tucanae.

21 Nov 2021 15 8 457
A project I had started just before my father passed away I got down to finishing it so I could try it, after all that had to be done for the funeral from afar.. I wanted to control the focus of the nikon lens from the computer Even try to be able to set it up to do automaticaly. I had a spare ZWOEAF so made the rest myself to suit. Belt drive on the focus ring Of the Nikon lens.The only snag I hit was there is no more room for movement once a Nikon lens reaches Infinity focus. To get auto focus Automatically the computer need to create a V shape made up of getting into focus and also leaving the focus point to make the V. I can only use getting to the focus point there is no leaving. it still gave me a more control able way to reach focus as the the Focuser has small steps of movement in its range much finer than trying to focus by hand. . focus was at Step 15580 manually working it out with SGP 's HFR indicator stored and written down on the computer for reference Last night I thought every thing wrong about taking the photo but thats what Full moon night are for. I did not even put the guide scope on the other side next part. I had no darks, No flats, No guiding at all all I used was the mounts ability to track, full moon and I did not add ELenhance filter in the draw . So this is 90 shot 4 min each stacked( I took the chance in Pixinsight not knowing if it would work no dark or Flats) and edited in Pixinsight by all rights the shot should look like S*%t but it does not. But It only goes to prove MacGyver is a live and well.. and you can make things yourself its not pretty but it works. ZWOASI071MC Pro -10c ZWOEAF , Nikon 300mm F4 D lens @F4 Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro SGP Pixinsight, Ps.

Omega Centuri NGC5139

16 Apr 2021 12 5 348
As I have had a string of cloudless moonless nights I decided to try one of my old targets. I had to get Clara to point with the Laser pointer so I could find the target in the 600mm lens in 2019. Its a whole lot easier on computer in 2021. another of the only in the southern hemisphere I have to say far more please with this shot than the first in 2019. Taken with ZWO CMOS camera 259 Files 2 min files Shot With ZWO ASI071MC Pro @ -10c ZWO AEF, Optolong LeNhance filter, Skywatcher Black DiamondED80 OTA Skywatcher EQM35Goto Guided PHD2, DSS, Pixinsight, Ps, Lr.

Horse Head Nebula(NGC2023) and Flame Nebula(NGC202…

03 Mar 2021 17 4 368
This is the same data as the above shot but edited first in PixInsight and just finished off in Ps. The Use of PixInsight brings to the shot a far better amount of nebulocity and a far simpler way to edit the photo. Still learning I hope you agree much better and clearer.