Hello from Canada!

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Alex avatar
Hi everyone,

Having viewed so many amazing images on the site over the past couple of years I decided to subscribe recently and continue on my journey towards astrophotography. I live in Burlington, Ontario, Canada which is about an hour west of Toronto along Lake Ontario.

I have loved astronomy ever since I was a boy and had a small refractor to start off that my parents bought for me. It was just a store bought one and nothing special. One of the ones they advertise 500X magnification to get your attention. I'll never forget the first time I saw the Moon,  Jupiter and Saturn through a telescope. At that point I was hooked. I even did a class project on all the solar system planets when I was in Grade 4.

Later in my 20's I purchased my first telescope with the help of my grandfather, which was a Meade 10" reflector and started on my journey with AP by getting my first shots of the moon using an older Nikon with cable release. The Nikon was my grandfather's and he was really into photography in general. He would let me use it as he wanted to see what I could get with the telescope. The tracking was not great at all, and I didn't have other equipment so it was just the moon I was really able to target with my experience. I used it for observation mostly and got some amazing views of the Orion Nebula, Pleiades, Galaxies and the Milky Way from a local conservation area.

Then life took hold and I vowed to return to my passion one day. Last year I decided to get back into it with a plan for AP and purchased a Celestron AVX 8" SCT. I wanted to get started with planetary imaging and some limited DSO's such as globulars. I purchased a ZWO ASI224MC to get started. I've started with the Moon, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter so far. Planning to target Mars with the upcoming opposition, and get the remaining planets as well. Then move on to some Globular Clusters and other limited DSO's. I'm still debating and will decide to either continue to use my 8" SCT and purchase a guide scope and guide camera for longer DSO photography, or purchase an Explorer Scientific FD1 102mm refractor (I've been eyeing this one) with guide scope and camera for DSO's. Once I'm ready skill wise and my pockets ($$$) allow for it. Recently I also joined a local astronomy club which will also provide access to a much better dark site than my Class 8 Bortle backyard currently does. It will also provide the opportunity to meet new people and learn more too.

So far I've learned so much from the site and everyone's feedback and looking forward to learning more and hopefully one day produce some of the same beautiful DSO images I see on the site.

Excited to be part of the community and looking forward to it.

Clear skies,
Alex
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Daniel Erickson avatar
Welcome, Alex! Thank you for your detailed bio sketch. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your images. Like you, I'm returning to astronomy/photography (both) after a long hiatus (30 years, actually). Everyone I've met on this site has been so helpful and encouraging to me; I'm sure you'll find the same.

Clear Skies,
Daniel
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Rich Sky avatar
Good luck with you plans, and keep looking up
Ian Dixon avatar
Welcome Alex!
CS
Ian
Malibyte avatar
Hi Alex!
I was born in Toronto - unfortunately haven’t been back since I was 7.  I’ve kept renewing by Canadian passport…I may eventually move back up…but probably to BC.

I’m new here, also.  I’ve  been doing wide-angle Milky Way and star-trails photography but am looking to expand my horizons.  I’m new to the game also - and finally have a little time to spend on it.

Welcome!
Bob
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Mark Germani avatar
Hi Alex:

A bit late on the welcome-wagon here, but welcome to the site! I just had a look at your planetary imaging, and it's pretty amazing! I particularly liked your work on Saturn.

Have you made any decisions about DSO imaging? I just bought a SkyGuider Pro and a 80mm achromatic. I can't imagine what you'd be able to do with the AVX and a 102mm apo! How is the light pollution in Burlington? Do you have a dark site, or do you mainly image from home?

It's awfully rainy here in Vancouver. I Hope things are clearer in Burlington!

Cheers,
Mark
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