Bigger version (2000x1330)
DATE
May 23rd, 2009
PHOTO
Exposure time:
L: 18x10', RGB: 6x5' each
Total: 4.5 hours
Focal: 510mm, f/5
EQUIPMENT
Imaging scope: FSQ106 EDX
Camera: STL11000
Guiding camera: StarShoot Autoguider
Mount: Takahashi EM400
SITE & CONDITIONS
DARC Observatory, California
Seeing: Good
Transparency: Good
SOFTWARE
Stacking: DeepSkyStacker
Processing: PixInsight & Photoshop
COMMENTS
This is not the image I had planned for last Saturday. I had planned to use my C9.25 with the STL and the new Moonlite focuser I just got, and play with them for a while, but that evening there were some friends at the DARC Observatory checking "how astrophotography was done", and I decided to do something "easy" instead. The problem is that I just "nicely" framed the two Messiers in the picture, but that's not what I would have done, should I have come prepared. I noticed a bit too late. I'm almost sure I will come back to this object later this summer.
