M78

[twilbur]

Hey, long time no post!

I've been working long hours and in the little time I've had for astronomy I've been trying to get my new toy fully functional. I've now the proud owner of a Takahashi FC-60 Apo!

This is the "long" version of the Tak 60, and with the spacers I needed to reach focus, it comes in at around 550mm. I got it used off Astromart for a mere $650, not bad for a Tak apo. With the ST8 camera the image scale of this setup is around 3.37 arcseconds per pixel, FOV is 55x85 arcminutes. I'm using the LX200 as mount and guidescope, and at this image scale, it does a superb job. Guiding errors are much less noticeable than at the 1.18 arcseconds per pixel I was getting through the big scope.

I'm still getting used to working with this rig. The idiotic search light from a local car dealership caused some gradients that I couldn't quite get rid of and there was some vignetting, I really need to take flats next time. But overall, I'm pretty happy with it.

[Ron]

Ted,

Nice job!

Looks like the new toy is working good.

Where would the McNeil Nebula be located in relation to your image?  Would it be up and to the left?

Thanks for sharing,

Ron

[ricksastro]

Great work, Ted!!!   Glad to see someone is having a few clear skies!

Rick

[twilbur]

Thanks!

Ron, you're right, McNeil's Nebula is to the upper left of M78, but not far away at this image scale!
I believe it's the second patch of nebulosity toward 11 o'clock, there's 3 little stars there plus one that's in the nebula and looking fuzzy. Can you imagine discovering a nebula?

[Ron]

Ted,

I thought that was just about where it is located.

I was comparing your picture with McNeil's but that big star above those 3 stars I can't seem to locate.  In your picture that star looks sort of oval, maybe it's not a star at all?  Interesting?

You keep taking those kind of shots maybe you will find the next something

Ron