M8 (Lagoon Nebula) & M20 (Trifid Nebula) Area
M8 and M20 are relatively close together in a very interesting area of the constellation Saggitarius which has many interesting objects. Saggitarius lies in the general direction of the center of our Milky Way galaxy which is why there are so many clusters, nebulae, etc to be found there. Visible in this photo are at least 4 interesting objects - M8 the larger nebula on the right, M20 the smaller blue and red nebula to the upper left, A dense star cloud in between, and M21 the open cluster below and to the left of M20. This is the "first light" image for my observatory building (click HERE for observatory construction details).
Details:
Imaged on 7/13/2007 at 11:20 PM through 7/15/2007 1:30 AM Central Time from Fordland, MO
Equipment:
Camera: Canon 300D (unmodified)
at Prime Focus
Imaging Scope: 80mm F6 Meade Series 5000 triplet APO
Guide Scope: 120mm F5.0 Orion Refractor
Guiding: GuideDog software and SAC-7b camera and TechnoPlus LX200 emulator
Mount: Losmandy CG-11 on concrete pier
Image Information:Imaging Scope: 80mm F6 Meade Series 5000 triplet APO
Guide Scope: 120mm F5.0 Orion Refractor
Guiding: GuideDog software and SAC-7b camera and TechnoPlus LX200 emulator
Mount: Losmandy CG-11 on concrete pier
Best 20 of 41 Frames, 2 Minutes each @ ISO 800 +
Avg of 10 Darks
No flat or bias frames
Captured with DSLR Control
Focused and Processed with Images Plus 2.75
No flat or bias frames
Captured with DSLR Control
Focused and Processed with Images Plus 2.75