Hi
Used the 6 inch f3.6 Meade Cometracker SN to get this pic
10x10 mins ISO200. UHCS and UV/IR filters, MPCC coma corrector. Modded 350D camera
hazy conditions at first
Warmish night so noise a hassle
Masked with a 2x30 sec. ISO200 shot
The Cometracker cost me less than $500 when I bought it, and the guidescope I used, $80. Both bought back in the 1980's
The Sampson Astro Optical Supplies GEM Mount also over 20 years old.
The only "newish" stuff is the filter, MPCC and camera.
Hand guided. Sky fairly light polluted.
The masking can be tough to do on something with the dynamic range of M42. Might have a go at getting it better later on.
Its fun pushing old equipment as far as possible.
Scott
Thanks all.
I think I will re image this next new moon but without the UHCS filter and not start till its fairly high, I think theres a lot of blues and greens the filter may cut out. Also, at F3.6 the cone of light is so steep the UHCS filter that being an interference filter may not be able to operate at its correct passband.
Scott
Nice image Scott! yeap those warm nights are starting to show in the images Nice and sharp and pleasing colors
true - but scott and I were having a chat and determined that the filter he was using removed too much of the reflection Neb (running man and other areas of M42). this has led to the intensly red look of the image after processing