Date/time: Nov 18, 2008 9:10pm
Location: Victoria Center Observatory, Observatory Hill, Victoria, BC


This was an experimental image to test a semi-automatic guiding technique developed by John McDonald. Instead of using a guide camera, the Paramount ME goto is actuated every minute on a landmark star at the centre of the field of view. This effectively compensates for the slight polar alignment error still present in the mount.

Camera: Unmodified Canon 50D dSLR mounted prime focus
Telescope: Meade LX200 14" SCT operating at f/10, mounted on a Paramount ME
Exposure: 5 minutes
Frames: 4 taken and used
ISO: 1600
Processing:

• Canon Digital Photo Pro: digital RAW to 16 bit TIFF development
• ImagesPlus 3.0: dark frames applied, no flat or bias frames applied; auto alignment; moderate digital development (BP 15,568; star size reduction (5 inter, 9x9)
• ACDSee Pro 2 Photo Manager: crop; size reduction; 48 bit to 24 bit RGB conversion; aggressive colour noise reduction