Photo observing log: 29 JUNE 2003

Purpose:
Testing of new goto mount on deep sky objects, under new moon conditions.

Location:
Sunrise Highway (alt. 4100'). Conditions: clear, breezy.

Time:
Begin 20:00 PDT 29 JUNE 2003, end 04:00 30 JUNE 2003.

Synopsis:
The Canon supertelephoto and digital back was mounted on a Meade LXD55 GEM Goto mount. Also tested was the Canon TC-80N3 Timer Remote Controller, which enables exposures up to 99 hours. A mini-messier tour was then initiated.

Best results:

M13 Globular Cluster in Hercules. The messier tour starts with M13 which was at zenith at the time of observing. 2003.06.29 21:50:43 600.0 mm 59 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1250 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1 White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 2,301KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M17 Omega Nebula in Sagittarius. 2003.06.30 01:51:50 600.0 mm 59 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1600 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1 White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 3,138KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M20 Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius. The longer exposure is showing trailing. The nebula is overexposed. 2003.06.29 23:24:43 600.0 mm 119 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 3200 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1 White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 3,978KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M22 Globular Cluster in Sagittarius. 2003.06.30 00:43:29 600.0 mm 59 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1600 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1 White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 3,189KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M26 Open Cluster in Scutum. 2003.06.30 01:04:25 600.0 mm 59 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1600 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1 White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 2,999KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M27 Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula. 2003.06.30 01:06:25 600.0 mm 59 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1600 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1 White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 3,006KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M28 Globular Cluster in Sagittarius. 2003.06.30 01:34:15 600.0 mm 59 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1600 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1 White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 3,339KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M31, M32, M110 Andromeda Galaxy. The bright galaxy core is overexposed. 2003.06.30 02:32:08 600.0 mm 119 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 3200AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1 White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 3,231KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M51 Whirlpool Galaxy and NGC 5195 in Canes Venaciti. They shine at mag 8.4 at distance 37000000 ly. I could not see the faint objects in the camera viewfinder so was shooting purely on faith in the mount's pointing accuracy. 2003.06.29 22:24:25 600.0 mm 59 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 3200 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1 White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 2,886KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M57 Ring Nebula in Lyra. 2003.06.29 21:27:31 600.0 mm 59 sec, f/4.0 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1250 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1 White balance: Daylight Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 2,614KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

Eyepiece Projection Images:

Mars as disk. Imaged through Orion 8" f/5. Though the atmosphere was unsteady, Mars is now big enough to display surface features.

Mars as disk. Imaged through Orion 8" f/5.

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