Special post from Imelda B. Joson and Edwin L. Aguirre
In the years since its inception, the Northeast Astro-Imaging Conference (NEAIC) has evolved into the largest gathering of its kind on the East Coast. Astrophotography aficionados from North America, Europe, and Asia have attended or spoken at the 2-day conference, held each year at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York.
“This year’s NEAIC was a resounding success,” said Jim Burnell, who, together with Bob Moore, Mike Peoples, and members of the Rockland Astronomy Club, organized the event that took place April 16 and 17. “More than 130 people registered for the conference, the largest to date. More than 20 manufacturers exhibited their latest astroimaging gear, and over $5,000 worth of products were given away as door prizes.”
The talks, workshops, and posters covered a diverse range of imaging topics designed to help backyard observers of all ages and at every level of experience overcome hurdles that prevent them from capturing fine astrophotos.
The program featured Tony Hallas (who discussed electronic noise in CCD cameras), Gary Honis (modifying and cooling digital SLR cameras), Dave Snay (introduction to astroimaging and how to choose a mount), Doug George (workshop on MaxIm DL), Steve Mazlin (remote imaging), Sheldon Faworski (choosing a telescope for imaging), Mike Unsold (Images Plus workshop and how to control the DSLR remotely), Imelda Joson (how to get your images published), and Olivier Thizy (low- and high-resolution amateur spectroscopy).
Other speakers included J. P. Metsävainio (3-D image processing), Jim Burnell (choosing a camera for imaging), Jerry Lodriguss (processing DSLR images), Warren Keller (choosing imaging software), Steve Walters (workshop on CCDNavigator), Peter Ceravolo (telescopes for “monster” CCDs), Warren Keller (Photoshop techniques), and Alan Holmes (SBIG’s new differential guiding system).
A new feature this year was a live, remote-imaging session demonstrated by Mazlin on Thursday evening using a telescope in the Andes Mountains in Chile.
NEAIC participants were also given tickets to the Northeast Astronomy Forum & Telescope Show (NEAF), one of the largest astronomy shows in the U.S., held that weekend at the Rockland Community College.
For more information about next year’s NEAIC, visit www.rocklandastronomy.com.
Related:
Online Reader Gallery — Images from astrophotographers all over the world