Greetings from Bloomington, IN!

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Introductions Deep Sky
13 replies•140 views
Paul Macklin avatar
Paul Macklin avatar
Hello! I've been on the site for a few weeks but haven't stopped in to introduce myself yet. 

In my day job, I'm an Associate Professor of Intelligent Systems Engineering at IU. I write open source software to simulate complex biological systems, especially cancer. But we're not here for my day job. :-) 

I'm mostly interested pushing my hardware as far as I can take it to image deep space objects. I'm currently using a ZenithStar 61ii, ZWO asi533mc, and a Star Adventurer with guiding. So far, I've managed to push the venerable SA to reliably take 6 minute subs. :-) Most recent project was the Iris Nebula. 

I'm also super interested in photographing the aurora borealis, mostly from road trips to Upper Peninsula Michigan. 

I love this community. I learned so much from browsing astrobin when trying to figure out what's possible, and it's been an inspiration to me. I look forward to making friends, following their great work, and learning!
Tyler Millhouse avatar
Tyler Millhouse avatar
Welcome, Paul! I also have an SA, and the ability to guide really makes it a formidable piece of hardware for the price. Fantastic job capturing the dark nebulosity in the Iris! Looking forward to seeing more of your photos.
DylanMcLean avatar
DylanMcLean avatar
Hi, I wouldn't want to create a new topic about this, but I recently registered and would like to be a member of your community, thanks for having such an interesting place!!!
Paul Macklin avatar
Paul Macklin avatar
Tyler Millhouse:
Welcome, Paul! I also have an SA, and the ability to guide really makes it a formidable piece of hardware for the price. Fantastic job capturing the dark nebulosity in the Iris! Looking forward to seeing more of your photos.

Thank you! 

I've had a bit of a love-hate relationship getting the SA to this point, but glad to finally have it working pretty well. 

And thanks for the welcome!!
John Noble avatar
John Noble avatar
Welcome Paul, I'm not too far away from you in Cincinnati - from the looks of your Iris your skies are a bit darker than mine! Just stepped back into the hobby after a 12 year break and am also using the Z61 but with a sky guider pro. I have no doubt the basement will be filling up with more scopes and cameras soon!
MattWatsonn avatar
MattWatsonn avatar
Welcome aboard man! I'm also new here, glad to join that community c:
Paul Macklin avatar
Paul Macklin avatar
@John Noble: 

Thanks for saying hello!

That was a bit of a special time – I had a couple nights in Bortle 2 skies in Upper Peninsula Michigan. Ordinarily I'm in my Bortle 5-6 backyard. :-) 

Fun to push the ZS61 far. Great to see you in back in the hobby–from what I can tell, the equipment has made it a long ways to make it accessible even to noobs like me! ;-)
Paul Macklin avatar
Paul Macklin avatar
Welcome aboard man! I'm also new here, glad to join that community c:

Thanks!
MattWatsonn avatar
MattWatsonn avatar
Paul Macklin:
Welcome aboard man! I'm also new here, glad to join that community c:

Thanks!

Douwe79 avatar
Douwe79 avatar
Welcome, and nice Iris Nebula. This one is on my target list, too. 

I do recommend using a field flattener. 

CS
Douwe
Paul Macklin avatar
Paul Macklin avatar
Welcome, and nice Iris Nebula. This one is on my target list, too. 

I do recommend using a field flattener. 

CS
Douwe

Thanks. I am indeed using the W.O. 0.8x flattener, but I definitely need to improve its calibration!
Dale Penkala avatar
Dale Penkala avatar
Welcome Paul, looking forward to seeing your images! Love the Aroura with the meteor shot!
Elmiko avatar
Elmiko avatar
Welcome Paul! Looking forward to seeing your images.
Paul Macklin avatar
Paul Macklin avatar
Dale Penkala:
Welcome Paul, looking forward to seeing your images! Love the Aroura with the meteor shot!

Thanks, I really appreciate that. Loved processing those images!
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