Murray Paulson Astro Pages

You have stumbled upon Murray Paulson's Astro Pages.
[under construction]

I have been an amateur astronomer since I was 9 years old. I have owned and built many telescopes, and I presently have 3 refractors and 3 reflecting telescopes:

Astrophysics 130
Takahashi Sky 90
Bardou & Son 70 mm (antique)
12.5" Ceravolo Dob
10" Dob
Mewlon 250

Photography has always been in my blood, and I used Nikon equipment until my foray into the age of digital. This shift was caused by the demise of film in the wavelength of H-alpha. I now use a Canon Digital Rebel xt as my primary astro-imaging camera. I also own a SBIG 237 and a number of Nikon FA bodies.

I am a neophyte at web space, so this site may take some time to develop!

M.D.P. 06/26/2006

Photography

Film

I found that film is great for deep sky, aurora and lunar photography but
lacked the ability to do justice to solar and planetary imaging.

North American Nebula: 135mm Nikkor f2.8/Kodak supra 400 15 minutes

Digital

Canon Rebel xt at prime focus with an AP130. ISO 400/ 5 minutes

Planetary

Mars October 22 2005: ToUcam and AP130 at f60 1000 frames processed by Registax

Solar

H alpha: Takahashi Sky 90 + Coronado SM60

Night Scenery

For more Night Scenery shots click here

Adventure

The Transit of Venus

Mid Transit: Takahashi Sky 90/Nikon 5400

The Transit of Venus

On the 8th of June 2004, Venus passed in front of the disc of the Sun for the first time in 121 years. I had been interested in this event since I was a teenager. My first glimpses of Venus during the daytime were in 1967 as it passed 7 degrees below the sun. At my location near Edmonton Alberta, Canada, we only get 7 plus hours of night on the 8th of June and the 6 and a quarter hours of the Transit event just happened to occur entirely during that period!

With this in mind I decided to find a location that would be interesting as well as a good location to see the entire event. The island of Crete piqued our interest and we settled on viewing the Transit from the rooftop of our hotel in Hersonissos, the Venus Melena. The hotel name means the dark(er) side of Venus (love). The manager of the hotel brought us coffee and juices for our 6 and a half hour stay on the roof. The transit morning started off with heavy overcast which broke before first contact. We saw all 4 contacts of the event and it was a spectacle I will never forget.

I created a commemorative "T" shirt with these graphics for our group and a few locals that chanced upon us on Transit day.

The island was interesting and the people friendly. We would go back to Crete in a heartbeat!

Eclipse chasing...

Side Turkey March 29 2006. For more Eclipse shots click here