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Hello from Galveston

Canon EOS 1100D / Rebel T3 / Kiss X50 Celestron NexStar 8SE Beginner Introductions
Texas Astronomy •7 replies•75 views
Heather Charron avatar
Heather Charron avatar
Hi! I'm excited to find fellow Texans! I'm very new to the hobby and have been imaging from my 2nd floor apartment balcony in Galveston since October 2023 when I was gifted a Celestron NexStar 8SE. I'm also a member of the Houston Astronomical Society but haven't had the chance to take advantage of their dark site yet. 

I've been imaging with my 8SE on it's alt/az mount with a 6.3 focal reducer and modified Canon EOS 1100D. A few weeks ago, I added a wedge to the mount as well as a 60mm guide scope and Player One Neptune-C II guide camera (that'll also double as my planetary). I can't wait for some clear nights to get everything set up and running. These clouds and storms are relentless!! 

Does anyone have suggestions on dark sites closer to the Galveston area? I'm thinking about booking a campsite at the Galveston Island State Park, but its still only bortle 4.5-5.
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Gary Imm avatar
Gary Imm avatar
Welcome, Heather!  Texas normally has decent weather but this year has been terrible so far.
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Ron Crouch avatar
Ron Crouch avatar
Welcome !  Boy Gary summed up weather well.   We are due a good long run of clear dark nights I think!
Ron
Heather Charron avatar
Heather Charron avatar
I agree! Lets all just not buy any new AP gear until hurricane season is over! I blame myself for Beryl (should've know the damage that new guide scope and camera would cause).
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Chase Davidson avatar
Chase Davidson avatar
Welcome Heather! Galveston state park would be pretty good if you find a time when the wind is down. I capture in Pearland in a bortle 8-7 and I dream of bortle 5 or 4. I came down to Tiki Island a few weekends ago but everyones spotlights over the canals kinda ruined my plans. I have tickets to George Observatory this weekend but I think we are going to get clouded out smile

I'll say I started out with a cheap newtonian and my iphone and now have spent more money on this hobby than most vehicles I've owned. It definitely is addicting and it's a shame we live in a humid/light poluted/cloudy area. I'm very new to this too but let me know if you have any questions in pre/post processing. Looking forward to seeing more of your pictures in the future smile
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Drew Hackney avatar
Drew Hackney avatar
Welcome, Heather! I've been doing this for about 18 months shooting near San Antonio. I'm glad to hear from astrophotographers who have been doing this for longer than I have that the weather has been bad this year. I'm enjoying the cooler temperatures compared to last summer, but not the clouds.

Jon Rista made a comment on another topic that stuck with me about how Bortle numbers may not be as useful for imaging as we think here: https://www.astrobin.com/forum/post/166787/ Though I haven't dug into the bolts of what he's saying too deeply.
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Nick Large avatar
Nick Large avatar
Hi Heather, Welcome into the Hobby.

I'm in San Antonio and as Gary said I've been fortunate with the weather since I started into the hobby 4 years ago (boy, 4 years already!?). You may have more struggles with the weather on the coast but don't let that prevent you from enjoying the hobby.
I do not know specific dark sites near Galveston but you can use this light pollution map to get an idea. When you click on the map it gives you an estimation of the Bortle class of that location. I think HAC has its darksite in Columbus. Closer to you I would maybe look into the Wildlife Refuge NE of Galveston, that's a Bortle 4, which is not bad at all and is only 1h30 drive.

Looking forward to seeing your images.
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James Sokolowski avatar
James Sokolowski avatar
Hey Heather…

I'm just S. of Houston, so understand what you're saying about clouds and weather… my equipment is now located out in Marathon, Texas at the shared MaRIO observatory, which has been amazing.  Imaged all night last night and seeing was better than 2" for virtually all subs.

When I was setting up my rig "locally" I looked into the HAS dark site out west of town… as well as driving out into Hill Country for a nice combined vacation & astrophotography "thing" …  Also, not far from me is a 'darker' site operated by The George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park … not super dark, but darker than here… I forget but maybe Bortle 4 or 5 or so…

Welcome to the hobby… tons o' fun.

Jim
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