Deep-Sky Astrophotography
by Martin Rusterholz
Cxielo Observatory
CXIELO Observatory is a remote-observatory located in Southern France and is a member of ROSA (Remote Observatories Southern Alps), founded 2008 by Daniel Marquardt and Karel Teuwen. It is a rolloff-roof observatory hosting an RCOS 14.5″ scope and a Takahashi FSQ-106EDXIII carried by an ASA DDM85 mount. On both telescopes, a CCD camera with KAF-16803 sensor is used with Astrodon Gen2 LRGB and Ha (5nm), OIII (3nm) and SII (5nm) filters. The different focal length of the two telesopes results in 40’x40’ and 3.5°x3.5° field of views.
Deep-Sky Astrophotography allows me to experience the beauty of the sky. The processing of the images is like a meditation for me – taking the time to make the fine details of galaxies and nebulae visible is a gift.
“Looking at the nights sky is an experience touching everybody deeply inside something common to all human beings independent to the language spoken by the individuals”.
Therefore Deep-Sky Astrophotography is my passion.
A few words about Cxielo
In summer 2008, I was travelling for the first time to Southern France at the place, where my friend Daniel Marquardt had built his remote observatory. Helping him finalizing the setup, the idea to build my own observatory next to his dome came into my mind. Looking at the dark nightsky with the Milkyway touching the horizon removed all my concerns.
Beginning 2009, the preparation of the ground and foundation for my roll-off roof observatory begun. Since March 2009, my observatory is operational and I am collecting photons whenever the sky is clear.
I am visiting the place mutliple times a year for maintenance of the installation and enyoing the nature and the nightsky. It became my second home.