Astrophotography Japan / Izu-Atagawa (Episode 32)
To enjoy hot spring waters during the chilly winter month of March, I traveled to Izu-Atagawa and stayed at a Japanese Onsen Resort Hotel. Late the evening I could image the Great Orion, Spaghetti and Thor`s Helmet nebulae under Bortle Class 4 skies; all before midnight. A little Japanese sake helped to add some cultural flavor to the imaging session, as well. Views of the beautiful town, hotel, park, hot springs, beach and night skies are featured in the video. Deep sky images were taken with the Askar FMA135mm widefield lens with sidereal tracking provided by the ZWO AM3 mount and ASIAIR mini.
01:42. Objectives of the Trip
02:22. Izu Peninsula Location
03:41. Izu-Atagawa Prince Hotel
04:47. Atagawa Onsen Sakurayama Park (the imaging site)
06:25. Askar FMA135 Optical Tube Assembly
07:04. Nebulae Imaging Plan
07:31. OTA and Imaging Rig Set-up @ the Imaging Site
08:12. Polar Alignment and Focusing
08:35. Imaging the Great Orion Nebula (M42)
12:02. Confirming Excellent Sidereal Tracking
12:34. Imaging the Spaghetti Nebula (Sh2-240)
15:00. Daiginjyo Sake @ the Imaging Site
15:30. Imaging Thor`s Helmet Nebula (NGC 2359)
18:13. Canon EOS R8 Sky & Night Landscape Images
19:00. Nightime Onsen (Hot Spring) Baths
20:47. Morning Onsen (Hot Spring) Baths
22:00. Izu-Atagawa Train Station & Hot Spring Foot Bath
22:21. Walking Tour of Izu-Atagawa town
23:10. The Beach and a Possible Future Imaging Site
24:32. Final Comments