Date/time: July 2, 2008 1:00am
Location: Victoria Center Observatory, Observatory Hill, Victoria, BC

This is a test image to verify that the tracking error of the Paramount ME/Meade LX200 14" combination is within specification. No tracking errors were detected in any of the 44 frames. It appears past tracking errors are now eliminated - the telescope and mount are ready to be used for astrophotography at f/10.

There is some banding visible in the image. Dark frames were used to calibrate the raw images, however flats and bias frames were not used, and would improve the look of the resultant image.

Camera: Unmodified Canon 30D dSLR mounted prime focus
Telescope: Meade LX200 14" SCT operating at f/10, mounted on a Paramount ME
Exposure: 2 minutes
Frames: 44
ISO: 1600
Processing:

• ImagesPlus 3.0: digital RAW to FITS development; dark frames applied, no flat or bias frames applied; visual grading indicated no bad images; auto alignment; excluded average used to combine images; aggressive digital development (BP 469).
• Corel PhotoPaint X3: 48 bit to 24 bit RGB conversion; some contrast stretching in darker areas to emphasize dark lanes in galaxy arms; colour temperature modified to favour blue to enhance blue star-forming regions.
• ACDSee Pro 2 Photo Manager: cropping; colour balance check; image size reduction, conversion to jpg.