Mike Geisel: Astrophotographer

Sky-Watcher family member profile: Mike Geisel

Like many of us, MikeU+2019s long interest in astronomy started when he was young.

“I first got interested in astronomy as a 12-year-old in 1969, probably influenced by the Apollo Moon landing. So, this year is my 50th anniversary as an amateur astronomer! I remember lying on the front garden path with a torch and a star chart I found in an atlas and learning the constellations. I joined the AAQ, Astronomical Association of Qld, as a teenager and got my first telescope at 14, A Tasco 4 1/2 inch equatorial reflector.”

“At that time there was a lot of interest in Transient Lunar Phenomenon (TLP) and I spent many hours monitoring the moon with red and blue filters. I eventually compiled a big lot of observations and sent them to the British Astronomical Association and was thrilled to get a personal letter back from Sir Patrick Moore thanking me. “

“I bought a second hand SLR when I was about 16 to try my hand at astrophotography but with very little success. This led to a lifelong interest in photography as well as astronomy culminating in 2014 when I achieved my professional accreditation with the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers.”

Although his participation in astronomy ebbed and flowed with family and work commitments in Warwick QLD, MikeU+2019s interest in it stayed with him throughout his life. After retirement due to ill health, he and his wife built a 2.3m Sirius observatory in their backyard and joined the Southern Astronomical Society.

“Living in a country town, on good nights the seeing can be very good.”

Mike also upgraded to a Sky-Watcher EQ8 pro mount and a Sky-Watcher Esprit APO 150ED along with a Sky-Watcher Black Diamond 80ED as a guide scope.

“I just love this equipment. The image quality is superb and the EQ8 does a great job and is very solid.” Says Mike. “At times while I am sitting in the dome listening to music and watching the images come up on the computer, I look at the scope and mount and get an urge to hug or pat it or something like a pet! I know how lucky I am to have this gear.”

“At the moment I use a range of ZWO cameras, mainly a 1600 MM-C Pro and an electronic filter wheel as I love imaging nebulae and galaxies. I also use a ZWO 290 MC and 290 MM for planetary and Lunar imaging with Tele Vue Powermate eyepieces. I do both LRGB and Narrow Band imaging. I am constantly amazed by how the digital revolution has changed astrophotography for the better. I can get images with my amateur equipment from my backyard now that are as good as or better than the biggest professional telescopes in the world were getting when I started as a teenager. I still have books I bought in the 1960U+2019s and 70U+2019s with images in them that prove it!”

“I have a Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro and a Sky-Watcher Esprit APO 80ED that I use when I go to astrofests etc. My wife and I own some land in a dark sky area about 40 minute drive from home. I am in the process of setting up an observatory out there that I will use on new moon weekends.

“I usually post my astro images to Facebook including my personal page and the SAS club page, Sky-Watcher Australia page and Astrophotography/amateur astronomy group where I have had comments from all over the world, including a request to share some of my images from a professional observatory in Europe. I was very excited to have an image published in the readers photos section of Australian Sky and Telescope and have two images in this yearU+2019s Sky Watcher Australia catalogue. I hope I will have many more years of astrophotography ahead of me and while the last few years have been a challenge and a very steep learning curve I am happy with my progress and with the excellent gear I have, I hope to keep improving.”

Thanks Mike for sharing your story!