M45

M45 is an icon of Autumn nights, visible in the constellation of Taurus. Those with good eyes will see the brightest 7 stars, shaped like a miniature 'big dipper'. This is another shot that has combined an H36 luminance image and an M25C one-shot RGB image. The lum was taken from Chiefland's Astro Village with the 10" Newt at f/4 and the RGB was from Laurel Lakes Campground in PA at f/3 with the 10" Newt and IDAS filter!

Image info:

10" Homebuilt Newtonian for both

Starlight Express SXV-H36 monochrome and SXV-M25 one-shot ccd camera

Lum: 46x10 minutes (460 total) at f/4 with the MPCC

RGB: 50x4 minutes (200 total) at f/3 Keller Corrector and IDAS filter

Stacked and flattened in Maxim and processed/combined in PS

Lum guided with SX OAG and SX guide head

RGB guided with Sky90 and SX guide head

11.8.10 and 10.22.06

Chiefland, FL and Laurel Lakes, PA