Photos, videos and docs of Steve Paxton

KiteKite falls

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:03:30 +0000

The walk up to the fall is quite a climb but from the far side of the Valley you get to see the full length of the falls. the walk from here is down to the base of the fall and a pool that can be swam in. The view from here does not get the very bottom of the falls. You can see the Pink shirt of some one climbing out the other side of the valley no easy climb.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitekite_Falls

Prawn Nebula IC 4628

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 06:12:17 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

This was a very hard fought target. first and for most my old power distributor died, it just up and no longer worked. It was find a replacement. SVBony 241 Pro this gave me full power and the USB hub I had could be retired as it had fully functional USB hub on one side.

My first target with this camera I got some funny results and did not quite twig what was going on. That target you will not see till maybe next year to say at this point I was happy to have a new camera, I asked for a full refund.

This is the camera that was replaced from the USA night two at -10c all the very last shots of the night had squid ring on the photo. Carlos said sensor glass is frosted so to prove it I warmed the camera not for 10 min but for 20 min. Slowly but surely the squid rings got less and less.

Frost

So it was where do I go from here. I got in touch with the camera manufacture "what is going on". It seemed I was dumped out on my own. Then I hit on the idea, -10c why not try 0c summer temp shooting. you are looking at 3/4 of this shot coming from perfect 0c THE WHOLE Night shooting. I never got this from my original camera.

One thing I have learned Life is never meant to be easy you got to keep on your toes. The only thing constant is change and something going astray.

QHY268M -10c one night 5 min SHaO 20 odd shot each dumped 4 hours of data ,1 1/2 nights shooting at 0c whole nights data perfect, 20 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
SVBony 241 Pro Power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Drosera menziesii DC Pink Rain bow: View as large as you can

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:00:27 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

The Evidence of the very heavy dew we get here Well worth viewing large.

Drosera menziesii DC Pink Rain bow

The Dragons are Back.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:20:55 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

Been a while since I have seen a Dragon fly, this one was enjoying the warmth of the sun on the flowers yet to come out. I was mowing the lawn but It would not fly away so It was a case where is my camera.

A new set of cloths

Banner Rivers & Streams

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Fri, 29 May 2026 22:11:18 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

Karamaturu Stream near the sea.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Fri, 29 May 2026 22:11:13 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

One Of the streams that as a family in NZ we spent a lot of time exploring and photographing within the Waitemata ranges in Auckland. Just a few shots I have of the different parts of the stream.

Karamaturu Falls

Karamaturu Stream

Clouds on the water- Karamaturu Stream

NGC6188 Fighting Dragons Of Ara.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:58:32 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

I set out to show the Dragons Fighting no more back ground than the camera showed. This is a two panel panorama but that's as far as I got one night of data on each panel. We are about to get hit once in 5 year storm and nothing but clouds and rain for the next month Nothing is going to be added to these shots. camera train is inside in a box with Silica gel till the rains and clouds clear.

The shot was taken with Ha S O filters you can see the result on the right hand side but PixInsight have added a conversion to the shot so the Filters show as a Normal coloured camera Left side. All previous conversions lacked any detail and show a more washed out look and why I insisted on the Hubble shots of SHaO as it held all the detail true to the shot.

So the Left side is Ha S O and RGB stars converted to a normal colour camera rendition. The Right side is SHaO in the Hubble pallet RGB stars. So Which is a better look of a normal RGB camera or a Mono camera with filters as pure narrow band colours.

6 Panel panorama

QHY268M -10c one night 5 min SHaO 20 odd shot each , 20 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Southern tadpoles. NGC3572

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sat, 16 May 2026 08:37:26 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

Part of the Carina complex with the small Southern Tadpoles Center of shot. The northern Tadpoles are much larger and more numerus

www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/nebulae/tadpole-nebula-ic-410

This was a place I did want to come back to to try and do them justice that a colour camera just can not do. If you look middle of the shot you can make out the Horse shoe shape in the wide angle shot of the whole area.

Carina Nebula Wide Field.

QHY183M -10c 4 days 5 min SHaO 70 odd shot each , 40 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
ZWOFW and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Storm Clouds.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:51:20 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

Perth was hit by a very big storm that delivered a hail storm that was close to Golf Ball size hail for about 25min. The open air car yards instantly got cars with panels that had the look of the surface of a golf ball. There was a lot of discount cars at this time with a very distinctive look. Once the Storm passed the Sunset was quite some thing one of the most colourful I have ever seen and the clouds really stood out.. This is From 22/3/2010, cars are still driving around with the tell tail sign that they went through the storm.

Clouds Banner

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:48:10 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

I can't load in Ipernity CWP as the Banner top of page, photo is in group as a separator... with what is going on at the moment.....

Liquid Amber autumn colour.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:40:06 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

Has been a very hot start to autumn but we got some very clear nights the temp dropped below 9c . for the very first time I have some real colour in the leaves. I normally get only a very light hint of colour First time I have any real depth of colour.

Whirling Dervish NGC 3247

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:00:38 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

If you look into the Whirling Dervish of Turkey

www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1701421760530517

You cant mistake the shape and the movement there even has the arms up as well. The face is there but the hat is black not the beige colour.

QHY183M -10c 4 days 5 min SHaO 70 odd shot each , 40 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
ZWOFW and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
ToupTek G3m Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Getting warm and comfortable.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:42:16 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

One of the kittens of the house once it got warm and snuggled up fell asleep for as long as the person kept the same position.

Nervously watching

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:41:59 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

The full shot that the banner came from for this months CWP. The monkey temple in Bali a place you have to watch the monkeys they very easily steal your glasses.

Running Chicken Nebula IC 2944:- Do look as large as you can

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:39:22 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

This was pure trial.

The circles that showed up had to GO.

Standard QHY masks.

3Rd party filter masks all over the filter seat and hole this is the filters out so I could paint the interior, the small circles went as unlike the supplied masks they covered the whole of the hole no lights leaks down the side of the filters and a new interior paint job that reflected no light.

normal interior of the QHYFW contrast the new paint set as same angle

First show just how bright the inside of the filter wheel really is. I was told get some Musou Black and paint the two inside parts of the case.

A nights trial no small circles any where in the RGB stars or the Oii NB filter. But there remained a big circle in the middle. Musou Black Its an unearthly black to look at as it absorbs 98% of the light so no reflections

I raked my brain where is there a large circle. I could only find one just inside the top of the scope there is a 40mm Black plastic ring for the cover to sit on over the time it has got highly polished. Reflecting the light for the street lights or the moon down to the mirror. Only answer is Flock it a velvet like paper that is self adhesive.

I did each night remove the previous nights stacked files so I could see the result of the new work that was done. The end result was every one of the circles where no more. I cant wait till the 16th of this month I have till the 23 rd to shoot LRGB MOON free and see once and for all can I finally do a clean coloured photo from filters. Has all this work paid off the RGB shot it did showed no marks the stars in this shot showed no marks so it all looks very promising. stay tuned! This was A lot of thinking, a lot of clouds from the cyclone and the rain I brought the scope inside.

QHY268M -10c 4 days 5 min SHaO 70 odd shot each , 40 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
ToupTek G3m Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

People and Animals

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:55:04 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

Feeding time

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:53:42 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

My son got the chance to be able feed the lambs as he was one of the younger ones in the group. This was the farm that was used as the set of Hobbiton they gave the youngest members of the group the chance to hand feed the orphaned lambs. Needless to say the few lucky ones this had a profound effect on them the chance to get so up close and personal that is offered to so few of us.

The Emu Watching over us.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:15:19 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

Well before the moon came up I saw this shot while I was on my own out in the landscape. The Emu in the Milky Way looking down at us as the milky way comes up on the Sagittarius Arm. This was only ever a TWO shot panorama more of the Sky than the ground but not forgetting the ground Lit by Low Level Lighting. Enjoy 1 am in the morning in the Black of night and the stars shining in the sky above.

D810 6400ISO 13sec
Samyang 14mm F2.4 @ 2.8

NGC 3522 The Wishing Well Cluster

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:12:47 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

On the far Left the Cluster is Suppose to look like coins in a Fountain. This is a target that has So many stars it takes over the nebulas. This was second fiddle to

As it ran from 1am to Dawn as a fill in. Carina is top right just out of view.

QHY268M -0c 6 days 5 min SHaO 100 odd shot each , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
ToupTek G3m Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

NGC1928

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:01:44 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

In part why I did a 42 panel look at the LMC area there is just so much here to look at. You can see this in the middle of the shot below.

This is almost the Heart of the LMC cloud we see in the sky at Night. I make 100% no apologies for the Number of stars in the Shot I have only tried to lower there value rather than the number.
Top left is the area we see the most shots of the LMC Tarantula Nebula but by no means the total of the LMC area.

This was shot over 6 nights till about 1 am before the LMC got really to low to image.
Enjoy one of the jewels of our Southern skies a Little bit more past the Normal...
QHY268M -0c 6 days 5 min SHaO 100 odd shot each , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
ToupTek G3m Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps