{"id":1207,"date":"2014-02-16T18:14:41","date_gmt":"2014-02-16T16:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.planetary-astronomy-and-imaging.com\/?p=1207"},"modified":"2014-02-17T21:36:52","modified_gmt":"2014-02-17T19:36:52","slug":"interview-yann-le-gall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.planetary-astronomy-and-imaging.com\/en\/interview-yann-le-gall\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: Yann Le Gall, planetary imaging with a large Dobsonian"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many instruments can be used to image planets. This week I’m portraying observer Yann Le Gall, who is making splendid images with large dobsonian on an equatorial platform !<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Browse Yann’s homepage here!<\/span><\/em><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Astrophotographie au dobson<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
Hello Yann! Can you tell us about you and your activity in astronomy?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n

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I was born in Paris and I grew up in the parisian region.<\/p>\n

After a few years as a seasonal worker in the mountains, I’m now working in Ile de France as a steeplejack. My first souvenir in astronomy goes back to my childhood but after a few beginning observations with binoculars and naked eye, I gave it up for a few years until the age of 23, when I visited a shop where I bought a book about amateur astronomy. Then it really started ;). I’m using my telescope when possible since ten years now.<\/p>\n

My first idea when I wanted to ask you some questions is the particularity of the telescope you are using for planetary imaging. Can you say a few words about it ?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n

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Indeed, these past years, after having used a C11 for imaging, I bought a 15″ (380 mm) dobsonian. First it was to make quality visual observation in the mountain where the sky was highly transparent. But the need for imaging was still there and I felt the desire to use this large diameter for photography as well! Some others succeeded in getting good images before me by using an equatorial platform, so this has been my choice as well.<\/p>\n

\"yann_mars\"

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I must have chosen the best platform currently available, a Tom Osypowski, that allows tracking on both axis, this being quite comfortable to image under good conditions. This system works just like a classical German equatorial mount, except that you need to reset it every 80 mn (this takes you a few seconds only). The telescope itself is a 380 mm F\/4,3 newtonian with an obstruction of 22%. The excellent optics were figured by Jean-Marc Lecleire. For planetary imaging, most of the time I use a Powermate 5x to reach correct sampling.<\/p>\n

The Dobson itself is a Skyvision, very well built especially the cell. The quality is not to be neglected; at first for budget issues I had bought a cheaper instrument but the mechanics were not up to the task… and the excellent primary was not able to work at its full possibility (astigmatism, weak collimation…)<\/p>\n

I must say that with this telescope you made images of really superb quality. But the instrument is not everything and I’d like to ask you how did you get to this skill?<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/em><\/h5>\n

As time goes by experience sets in and you learn from your errors. Moreover with the web, access to softwares and information is easy. Observers do not hesitate to share their knowledges as well on blogs or forums, you can find some excellent books about astrophotography…<\/p>\n

With persistence and by following the rules you have learned (cooling of the tube, collimation, sampling…), if atmospheric conditions are good, the images will be too.<\/p>\n

\"yann_jupiter\"