Leo Triplet imaged on 14 April

[seeker372011]

We-my son and I-imaged the Leo triplet on 14 April-and had heaps of trouble processing the images- First few attempts threw up some random icckies.

Anyway after struggling a bit here is the final result.

One lesson seems to be that imaging to the North from my location is a lot harder to capture detail of these faint fuzzies-much greater light pollution issues I think

Still for the moment here tis

details
Canon 300d
3 minute exposures-autoguided
ISO 800
stack of best 6 (out of 30!)

processed in photoshop
Noise removed in Neatimage

[xstream]

Great shot Mate!
Looks just dandy to me.

Gotta get a lower power EP to get all three in the FOV.

[gbeal]

Nice shot, very nice. I have yet to try this group with the DSLR, I used an ST7 last year on them, but the DSLR with it's wider filed makes for a very nice image.

[acropolite]

Amazing shots, how about a full description and some pix of your setup, guidance etc ?? :camera:

[[1ponders]]

You're really show'n the way Seeker. :cool2:

[atalas]

Nice work seeker and son !

Louie:2thumbs:

[Astroman]

I have always had a soft spot for this group of Galaxies ever since seeing them through my 4" reflector. Nice work.

Keep em coming.

[Rodstar]

Nice to see all three in the one FOV Finder! With my LX200, I can only see M65 and M66 in the one FOV with my widest EP. That is also by far the best detail on those targets I have seen. Another shot to send into the astro mags, methinks.

[toetoe]

What else do you and your son have for us, fantastic pic.. :)

[Robby]

Nice one Seeker, you are rocking with these images..
What focal length did you use on these? I assume it's with the C8??
Cheers

[seeker372011]

Hi Robby
yes it was with the C8, so 1000mm focal length.

[seeker372011]

never got around to taking a picture of my rig yet will do so one of these days.basically its an out of the box Celestron 8 inch Newtonian, on the CG5 Advanced Series goto mount.

Autoguided via an Atik 1c (modified Tou Cam), through a 60 mm , 700mm focal length refractor, using Guidedog

I'm planning to do a small write up on getting Guidedog to work which may be useful for anyone new to autoguiding.

The most interesting thing about my gear may be my guidescope..it cost $50 :) :) and I bought it-can you believe it-in Go Lo!

purchased mounting rings from BATSC in Melbourne and made a plywood mounting rail for the OTA after discarding all the junk that came with the Go Lo scope...such as a 4mm eyepiece and a Barlow which I suspect has plastic lenses:) :)

[xelasnave]

Fantastic Seeker and Son of Seeker. I cant wait to get the run down on guide dog. Keep it happening you are getting some great shots from your new gear .....alex

[Robby]

1000mm? Are you using a f/5 focal reducer. I thought the C8 was 2000mm. Or is the NGT something different?

Cheers

[Robby]

I just did a google & discovered the the C8 NGT is an f/5 newt. You learn something new every day!!!!
Cheers