Dr. Stephen Chadwick works for the Massey University, New Zealand. He recently received a contract to author a book called “Imaging the Southern Skies”, which will be published by Springer.

The book will consist of a yearly guide to image astronomical targets using amateur telescopes and CCD cameras in the southern hemisphere. It will also become a part of the “Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy” series, which are written for serious newcomers to amateur astronomy, for astronomy undergraduate students, and for interested general readers who want to study astronomy in depth.

The Imaging Source is delighted to provide Dr. Chadwick a DBK 31AU03.AS astronomy camera as one of his imaging tools. We wish him clear sky and look forward to his good work!

Allsky Probe is a astronomical system developed by French amateur astronomer Cyril Cavadore, who is also the author of the software Prism.

The idea of the system is to image the complete sky with a single shot, regardless of day or night, so that the quality of the sky can be measured in a real-time manner. This system is also able to record fast phenomena happening in the sky, such as meteors and fireballs, and to measure scientific magnitude per sec².

Cyril utilizes the DMK/DFK 41 astronomy cameras (USB&GigE interfaces) as the imaging tool of the system, because according to him

I need the largest possible sensor for this application and to enjoy the field of Fisheye.

Here is a color photo taken by Allsky Probe on 22.05, 2010.

It shows a moonless sky in a place not affected by light pollution, with brightness at zenith sky about magnitude 21 per arcsec square. Stars of magnitude 6 are visible.

The same sky on the same night, but 20 minutes earlier, with a monochrome TIS camera:

The sensitivity is better with the expense of color information (a slight tilt adjustment problem is visible, it has been  corrected). The stars of magnitude 7 are detected using 60s exposure.

Details about his project can be found at http://www.alcor-system.com/fr/AllSkyCamera/index_en.html.

Congrats to Cyril! Keep up the good work!

Astrolactée is one of The Imaging Source’ French resellers. The shop is located in Ile-de-France, suburb of Paris.

Astrolactée is going to show TIS astro cameras on booth 50, pavilion TD4 of the Foire de Paris (Paris Exhibition) from April 29 to May 9, 2010. They will display a wide range of TIS astronomy cameras and organize outdoor solar observation if the weather cooperates. They are also going to hand out some coupons and have some games for kids.

Have fun for those who will be around!

Astrofest, the biggest astronomy show in UK, will take place between Feb.05 and Feb.06, 2010, in London. Two years ago, The Imaging Source sent its staff to the show and met its customers in person. Although we are not going this year, our resellers in UK will present the complete range of the well known DMK, DBK, and DFK astronomy cameras.

You will see our posters on several different booths, where you have the opportunity to talk to the local reseller, get to know the cameras and find out what they can capture. Here is the list of our UK resellers and their booth number:

• Widescreen Center, Booth 51
• Telescope Planet, Booth 34-39
• Ian King Imaging, Booth 19

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The Imaging Source wishes everyone in the astronomy camera online community a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Please note that The Imaging Source’ headquarter in Germany will be closed on December 25, 26, and 31, as well as January 1.