Notwithstanding, there were lessons learned: (i) restrict mosaics to one or two panels and / or (ii) where wider view images are required use a wide FOV set-up rather than a large mosaic. Unfortunately the unpredictable occurrence of patchy cloud invalidated some of the panels, though I was finally able to compile a 7x panel mosaic of the upper easterly section of Barnard’s Loop – see below.
Undeterred, during January I planned and shot a 15x panel mosaic of Barnard’s Loop in Ha-wavelength. However, such is the weather in the UK (see above) that it’s obvious to me that creating mosaics is probably not the best use of what imaging time we get. Having previously got to grips with plate solving, using the new CdC planning function I intended to develop the use of mosaics this year. The result was better images but less of them and inevitably, a lot more cloud throughout the rest of the year! Of course such seeing conditions also resulted in better quality imaging itself and on a number of occasions I was able to achieve integration times of 10-hours or much more over a number of nights. Located in a Bortle 5 to 6 area I ordinarily achieve at best average RMS error guiding of 0.90” to 1.50”/pixel, guiding improved markedly during lockdown to between 0.50” to 0.75”/ pixel. Furthermore, as I live close to Gatwick and Heathrow airports + underneath numerous high altitude long-haul overflight paths, a massive reduction in air travel resulted in a very obvious improvement in seeing conditions, which was confirmed by guiding results. Although I am retired, under lockdown there was even more time available for hobbies. Notwithstanding the obvious problems and dire consequences of Covid-19 for everyone, there have been surprising benefits for astronomy. REFLECTIONS is a review of my astronomy and astrophotography during the past year, together with some thoughts on possible future developments.įor the world 2020 was a year like no other. Vistor map 2020: In this most difficult of years for everyone, it’s especially heartening to see so much interest from all corner’s of the world and hope to see you and others again in 2021 – Clear Skies! I always like to hear from others – comments, questions, help or just to say hello – and can be contacted via: or just leave a comment at the end of any item if you prefer. can also be found on this website I was suprised to see that to-date 152 items have been published on this site. Apart from the main blog about my progress or otherwise, links to other astrophotographers, astronomy tools, astronomy weather, scientific papers etc.
After starting astronomy in 2014, Watch This Space (Man) was launched shortly thereafter as a personal record of my then nascent astronomy journey.
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