Well I finally grew a pair

And performed the Astroimaging modification on my Canon 1000d.  It involves opening the case, digging deep inside to get to the CCD and the filter array that sits on top of it.

Very fiddly and there is a real brown trousers moment when after reassembly you switch it back on.  So many people I've read about have actually killed their cameras doing this mod.

This site is a great step-by-step guide.  Thankfully, my camera came on first time and appears to be functioning correctly.

These before

and after

images give you an idea of the filter's impact on the infra-red spectrum.

Can't wait for winter!!!

Never thought I'd hear myself say it, but I can't wait for winter!!  Those nights when it's already getting dark around 1700 mean I can get setup and snapping on school nights.  This time of year just doesn't lend itself to astrophotography (my last photos were back in April).  Even at the weekends when the weather is clear it just isn't dark enough to start taking snaps before 2300.  Still, gives me time to work on other things.