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Steve Paxton / Photos

Milky Way Core

This is the end result of starting End Of April Finished to12/7/2022. what started out as a look at the area I have been taking photos for years. There is a host of PIPs from all the parts I have taken over the last few years. To get this completed this is the third iteration getting the over lap correct so it finished first was 12% , and second was 23% but in the end I could see the panels walking away from each other as I shot so settled for 45%. So the true start was early in April getting this part correct so it finished. Added to this I went from an easy Rotation Error of 5 degrees to a very small 1.5 degree. Even last night at 11:53pm at flip the camera had to be rotated 1.8 degrees after flip to finish out the night.

I thought the best way to tell you Milky Way core is 53 shots per night X 22 panels = 1166 shot or x 10min exposure time.. = 11660 minutes of exposure to get the whole thing or divide by 60min gives you hours. = 194 hours or divide by 22 nights =8.81 hours a night shooting, not to get you confused...at all.

The result of two sequences and 22 panels (11 panels long)each panel a night shooting, The Tiff is 22653 x 8024 1.01 GB, Jpeg is 176Mb the shot here is under 25mb. The end was I thought my first sequence finished where I wanted to but I was way out by 6 more panels to get below the Eagle Nebula.

I thought Bonsai taught me patience but this has been a very long set of shots trying to get clear nights to get each panel between clouds and rain.

The march across the milky way as I took it stated with far right to left as the Milky Way rose in the sky:-

Fighting Dragons, Prawn , Cats Paw, Lobster, Dark horse ( bottom half only), Snake, Lagoon and Trifid, Horse Shoe, Swan and Eagle.

Enjoy the milky way like I have never seen before This will be entered in this years Astro fest.

ZWOASI071MC -10 53 shots each of the 22 nights

10min rotated to error of 1.5 degrees.

Optolong LeNhance filter,

Nikon 105 mm f2.8 G Lens

Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned

Guided PHD2, SGP

Pixinsight, PTGui, Ps, Lr.
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21 comments

Nick Weall said:

All far beyond my understanding, but looks great :)
22 months ago

Steve Paxton replied to Nick Weall:

Even as deep space its still a panorama 22 shot 11 long but there is more that can go wrong with deep space as it magnified so much. I am 100% stoked with the way it came out gives us a look at the whole of the core with some detail. Glad you like the shot.
22 months ago

Ko Hummel said:

a great picture Steve, it took a lot of effort to collect and combinen all the exposures. An excellent job
22 months ago

Steve Paxton replied to Ko Hummel:

Thank you Ko I am also glad so I can get on with other shots, it did take up a lot of time but I believe time well spent. We will never have seen any thing like this before may be I might try next year other parts of the Milky way then add to this.
22 months ago

tiabunna said:

Marvellous work, Steve. This really must be viewed in full screen (and I wish I had a larger one). Great to have all the PiPs with detail too. All the effort is well justified by this.
22 months ago

Steve Paxton replied to tiabunna:

It is a huge file and there is just so much more up there as well. I will pick a few spots to take from this shot. I am back into rain and clouds. As a side note this file has been entered into this years astro Fest.
22 months ago

Andy Rodker said:

Well done!
22 months ago ( translate )

Steve Paxton replied to Andy Rodker:

Thank you Andy I can admit half way through after coming back from NZ I did question myself just why I started. There was so few night from clouds and rain and I could see the Milky Way slipping away.
22 months ago

Rrrolf said:

A fascinating view into the infinite universe. Breathtaking!
22 months ago

Steve Paxton replied to Rrrolf:

It certainly is like nothing I have seen before myself. the net result was worth the effort but I am glad it is over as well. thank you.
22 months ago

Ronald Losure said:

Excellent photos, Steve.
22 months ago ( translate )

Steve Paxton replied to Ronald Losure:

Many thanks I am glad it has been so well received as some thing most people just would not see like this.
22 months ago

* ઇઉ * said:

This view of and into the Milky Way is pure fascination, Steve.
A masterpiece! Bravo!
Congratulations and have fun at this year's Astro fest.
22 months ago

Steve Paxton replied to * ઇઉ *:

I have been taking photo of the milky way for years but never in my wildest dream did I ever thought as a whole looked like this and have so much colour..
Moon Rise
It will be interesting but I don't see this as a winner far too many trees they tend to like the closeups of the Fruit but who knows. Many thanks for your great comment made the whole thing more worth while.
22 months ago

Herb Riddle said:

A giant amongst giants Steve. The Milky Way as very rarely seen. ~ It is difficult to envisage such an undertaking as you have done to get all this. Not minutes nor hours exposures but months. All blended, stitched and put together beautifully The many PiPs demonstrate your other involvement in capturing the Milky Way objects. I can only salute you. (James Web -move over" )

⭐ of course!!!! Congrats.

Keep good. Herb
21 months ago
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