For a long time I have been tempted to try
out sky imaging, but I was never convinced to give the big step forward. The
reason was that the equatorial wedge of my telescope was undersized, and I
did not own an adequate imaging system. But finally I solved it. My 10"
Meade LX200 Classsic has been updated with a superwedge and a Deep Sky Imager
(DSI) as introductory imager. I am having rewards and deceptions, but the
experience is well worth. This section is a matter of logbook. Click on the
different dates to link the respective webpages, and see the images got.
The first contact
● 22 Jan 2005 - The first contact with sky imaging,
very promising, too much to learn. The moon was 89% illuminated.
● 4 Feb 2005 - Second session, some problems solved.
The night was foggy and light polluted. Occasional clouds crossed the sky.
Learning more
● 12 Feb 2005 - Third session. IR filter removed.
Good and transparent night, although LM was <5.5. The F/D:3.3 reducer was
disappointing. All images were taken at 6.3.
● 15 Apr 2005 - Forth session. Good images with the
new F/D:3.3 focal reducer / field flatenner, although this accessory was shown
deficient at low light levels. The night was transparent and occasionally
windy. The Moon was present the first part of the night.
Going deeper
● May-September - Four sessions. Some tough objects
such as Palomar 4, Pease 1 or the Corona Borealis Galaxy Cluster, together with
other well known (Omega and Trifid nebula, etc).
● November-December - Two sessions. More objects and new processing
techniques to compensate the deficient colour correction of the DSI. Some
objects of the former session have been corrected.
Direct links to the images (sessions #3 and further)