August 3 2005 - M2, M3, M15, M34, M71, M103

M2: 90 second exposure @ ISO 400 (6x15secs), Orion Starmax 5" f12 mak cassegrain, canon G3 digital camera. I am not totaly happy with this shot so I will try it again. More stacked frames and better tracking and focuse should improve this image.



M3: 90 second exposure @ ISO 400 (9x10secs), Orion Starmax 5" f12 mak cassegrain, canon G3 digital camera. This is so far one of my best shots of m3, unlike last time i had much better conditions and that backyard security light was not on!



M15: 135 second exposure @ ISO 400 (9x15secs), Orion starmax 5" f12 mak cassegrain, canon G3 digital camera. A little overexposed in the center, so I will have to try 13 second exposures next time. otherwise I am happy with this shot. in comparison to my 80mm, i like the shots taken with the 80mm because of the widefield (see shots below) but my 5" tends to resolve more stars in the cluster itself.



M34: 70 second exposure @ ISO 400 (7x10secs), Orion 5" f12 mak cassegrain, canon G3 digital camera. This is a very nice open cluster throught the views of both my 80mm and 5" telescopes! Tracking errors did not allow me to take longer exposures as trailing was evident.



M71: 135 second exposure @ ISO 400 (9x15sec) Orion starmax 5"f12 mak cassegrain, canon G3 digital camera. Again this faint globular cluster seems to be at the limit of my canon G3. Darker skies, a faster telescope and a DSLR would allow me to get a much better picture. Next time I will try my 80mm which is a slightly faster scope then the mak which is originaly meant for planetary views more then deepsky.



M103: 105 second exposure @ ISO 400 (7x15sec). Orion starmax 5" f12 mak cassegrain, Canon G3 digital camera. This is my first shot of this cluster. Its not too interesting but since I am trying to get as much messier objects as i can with my G3, i took this shot. Perhaps my 80mm may give a much wider FOV thus make it look nicer. As well tracking was not all there as is noticed in the slightly trailed stars.