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LANGKAWI NATIONAL OBSERVATORY
SKY IMAGING WORKSHOP 2008
28 - 30 November 2008
Brief Description:
This workshop will cover the practical aspects astrophotography with Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras, Video Camera and CCD Camera. Learn how digital cameras work, how to take pictures with them, how to improve them with image calibration, and how to process them in Image Processing Software to make them shine!
Detailed Synopsis:
Learn how to shoot the Sun, Moon, Stars, nebulae, galaxies and other celestial objects with your camera. Beginner astrophotographers will learn how to get started by taking beautiful photos with just a simple camera on a fixed-tripod and then advance to piggyback and then prime focus astrophotography through a telescope. Single frame images as well as complex multiple-exposure composites and everything in between will be covered. The differences between shooting in-camera JPEG images versus Raw file format will be discussed. Discuss in detail how cameras work, how they differ from CCD cameras and their advantages and disadvantages. Basic topics such as camera settings, focusing, exposure, ISO and image histograms will be covered. Advanced topics for long-exposure deep-sky imaging such as dealing with unwanted signals and noise, and in-camera noise reduction vs. separate dark frames will also be discussed. Also reveal the single most important "secret" in taking better astrophotos! You will learn how to best use your camera by taking calibration support frames and multiple short exposures to increase the signal to noise ratio and produce dramatically better images. The workshop will also cover basic image processing and more advanced digital enhancement techniques.
Presenter:
i. Prof. Pedro Miguel Alfaia Barcia Rι
He is Marine Biologist and a Professor at the University of Lisbon / Portugal (Faculty of Sciences) where he teach Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography. Had a PhD in Animal Ecology (1984) and his current research interests deal mainly with the study of Plankton and Benthos Ecology.
Has been an amateur astronomer for more than 30 years, mainly interested in imaging the heavens (deep-sky but also the solar system). Over the years he had acumulated quite a few telescopes (300mm f/7.1 reflector, 222mm f/5.8 reflector, 150mm f/4 reflector, 100mm f/15 refractor, 100mm f/10 reflector) that are house in two different observatories (roll-off-roof and dome) located in central Portugal. He began imaging the heavens using conventional emulsion-based photography but now have turned to CCD's. In 1994 I bought a Hi-sis 22 CCD camera. He now own several CCD cameras including a SBIG ST-7, SBIG ST-8E and a SBIG ST-10XE (some of his images were already published in several Astronomy Magazines: Sky and Telescope; CCD Astronomy; Astronomy; Astronomy Now; Astronomy Magazine; Ciel et Espace...).
ii. Paulo Jorge Ferreira Casquinha (Electronics Technician)
Information regarding Astronomy:
- Published DVD about High Resolution Image Acquisition and Processing.
- Published article on APAA magazine, Image Processing step by step.
- Published images on Astronomy Now Magazine
- Published Images on Astronomie Magazine
- Published Images on British Astronomical Association Papers.
- Published Images on Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers Papers.
- Published Images on APAA magazine.
- Published Images on NASA Saturn Web Page.
- Published Images on NASA Education for amateur astronomy web site.
- Published Images on Spaceweather Website.
- Images used for presentation by Kim Nielsen on the USA Navy Research Laboratory.
- Images used for analysis by Dr. Gerd Baumgarten from Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics.
- Presentations on Planetary High Resolution Imaging.
- National Star Party under the organisation of National Museum of Science on 2004 and 2005.
- Astrovide on 2003 and 2004.
- APAA meeting on 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008.
- Astromira on 2003, 2004 and 2005.
- Conducted course on Astronomical Imaging at Fronteira Astronomical Observatory on 2006.
Current Projects:
- Astronomy at school, giving presentations about astronomy at High Schools.
- JUPOS Project with 3832 positional measurements of Jupiter atmospherical structures since November 2003.
For further information and registration, please contact:
Observatori Negara Langkawi
Empangan Bukit Malut
07000 Langkawi
Tel: 04-9668870
Fax: 04-9660177
e-mail:
kz@angkasa.gov.myWORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Date Time Programme
28/11/08 08.30 12.30 Basic Astro Imaging
Cameras/instrumentation
Imaging Software
Imaging Techniques
14.00 17.00 Basic Imaging Processing
Image Calibration/Reduction
Image Calibration, Flat-Field
Image Processing fundamentals
Image Processing software
20.30 Practical Imaging
Choosing Camera and Software
Matching Camera & Telescope
Signal versus Noise
Imaging Bright Objects: Moon, Planets, Comets
Imaging Deep Sky: Clusters, Galaxies, Nebulae, Supernovae
29/11/08
08.30 12.30 Astro Imaging Techniques
Imaging the Sun
Imaging the Moon
Imaging the Planets
Imaging the Deep-Sky
14.00 17.00 Astro Imaging Techniques
Imaging Solar and Lunar Eclipse
20.30 Practical Imaging
Choosing Camera and Software
Matching Camera & Telescope
Signal versus Noise
Imaging Options
Imaging Bright Objects: Moon, Planets, Comets
Imaging Deep Sky: Clusters, Galaxies, Nebulae,
Supernovae
30/11/08 08.30 12.30 Open Discussion/Presentation
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