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August 2010 a few of us went back to Kokerbin Rock for a camping & astrophotography trip. It had been some time (probably a year or two) since we were last there. With the ASWA Tammin site up and running there has been less interest in using the rock for astronomy. But, the rock is still a great environment to camp with nice trees and camping area, views from the top of the rock and opportunity for nature photography.
This was my first trip out to dark skies the with the AstroTrac since receiving it a couple of months earlier. I was hopeful of good results and an enjoyable astrophotography experience and I was pleased that the AstroTrac came through with the goods. I took several exposures both around the camp area at the base of the rock and up at the top of the rock where the Milky Way feels endless, stretching across the sky.
Viewing conditions were quite good, as indicated by some spectacular detail being visible on Jupiter when viewed through a friend's 15" Obsession dobsonian telescope. A light breeze was hanging around now and then, which was great for keeping the dew off optics. The temperature was a cool but not freezing 6 degrees (not helped at the top of the rock by a stiff breeze resulting in considerable windchill!).
Below are some photographs from the night. Overall I'm very please with the results, even though I did suffer problems with accurate focus and on a 50mm F/1.4 lens I was testing for the first time considerable lens distortions.
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