Photo observing log: 06 JULY 2003

Purpose:
Continued testing of goto camera; Mars and outer planets

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

Time:
Begin 20:00 PDT 06 JULY 2003, end 04:00 07 JULY 2003.

Synopsis:
Previous deficiencies in the Meade LXD55 GEM goto mount identified and addressed. Unguided exposures of up to 10 minutes were tested using the 300mm f/2.8 lens (FOV appx. 6° wide).

Best results:

C14 Double Cluster in Perseus. 2003.07.07 02:05:30 300.0 mm 59 sec, f/2.8 Mode: ManualMetering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1000 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Single frame shooting White balance: Auto Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 2,894KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M8 Lagoon Nebula and M20 Trifid in Sagittarius. 2003.07.06 21:22:15 300.0 mm 59 sec, f/2.8 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 800 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Single frame shooting White balance: Auto Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 2,529KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M31 Andromeda Galaxy. A 6-minute exposure begins to pick up the spiral arms. 2003.07.07 00:15:51 300.0 mm 359 sec, f/2.8 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1250 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Single frame shooting White balance: Auto Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 4,363KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions:CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M31 Andromeda Galaxy. This two-minute exposure at higher ISO shows spiral arms. 2003.07.07 00:05:55 300.0 mm 119 sec, f/2.8 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 3200 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Single frame shooting White balance: Auto Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 3,769KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M31 Andromeda Galaxy. A 6-minute exposure at elevated ISO. 2003.07.07 00:47:44 300.0 mm 359 sec, f/2.8 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1600 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Single frame shooting White balance: Auto Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 4,350KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M11 Wild Duck Cluster in Scutum. A small, 7.6 mag cluster. 2003.07.07 02:12:04 300.0 mm 59 sec, f/2.8 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 800 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Single frame shooting White balance: Auto Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 2,943KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M55 Globular Cluster in Sagittarius. A small, 6 mag cluster. 2003.07.07 02:24:34 300.0 mm 59 sec, f/2.8 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 1600 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Single frame shooting White balance: Auto Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 3,354KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

M81 and M82 in Ursa major. . 2003.07.06 22:58:46 600.0 mm 119 sec, f/5.7 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 3200 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Single frame shooting White balance: Auto Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off Filesize: 3,620KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

Lunar occultation of 48 Virginis. Image of star within 10 seconds of occultation. It winked out like a light. 2003.07.06 21:48:31 600.0 mm 1 sec, f/5.7 Mode: Manual Metering: Center-weighted average ISO: 800 AF mode: Manual Focus Drive: Single frame shooting White balance: Auto Color matrix 1: sRGB natural-looking hue and chroma Flash: Off File size: 1,743KB Image size: 2464 x 1648 Sharpness level: Off Custom Functions: CFn 3: Extended ISO sensitivity

Webcam CCD Images:

Mars as disk. Imaged through 10" Meade LX5 SCT with Toucam Pro. Exposure 1/250 @ f/10.

Eyepiece Projection digital images:

Mars as disk. Imaged through 8" Orion newtonian with Nikon 995.

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