New Image: M82 LRGB

OK, I found out that my guiding problem last night was the ferrite bead resistors in the camera. Tonight the seeing was terrible--between 4-5" and then there was some high thin haze, but I was determined to test out my gear and also get some color, whether the moon was out or not.

This is a 120:30:30:20 minute LRGB cut short by clouds coming in. Taken with an SBIG ST-10XE w/ AO-7, Tak NJP mount, and a 10" RCOS. A challenge to process with the moon and haze and outdated flats, but I am fairly pleased. Now I need a good clear night with some good seeing.

This is a crop of the full frame reduced for astromart.

Jeff

Attached Image:

Extremely nice given the conditions. I think I finally fixed some guiding errors of my own. friday night I went back to my 11" and was totally frustrated (got a little too used to the simplicity of imaging with the Tak 78). So I spent a few hours stripping the scope apart yesterday and found the main problem--the setscrew that holds the motor shaft to the worm was a wee bit loose, so there was a big pause as the dec axis switched direction. I also tightened up most of the mechanical backlash in both gear sets. Should be back to great goto's and easy guiding. I'd like to have an AO-7 for the thing, but the funds do not allow it. What any of this has to do with your image, I have no Idea. I just ramble sometimes.
Regards.

Looks pretty good, nicely detailed. Core details show up really well.

Ron WOdaski