New Image - M3 Globular Cluster

Folks - for your enjoyment (?)

We a good spell here last night so I was trying to perfect my polar alignment, collimation and focus. When that didn't work ( ) I figured I'd have a go at another object and M3 happened to be nearby.

I took some other images of PGC-48316 (a really faint Galaxy) and managed to get it (mag 16.5) with 1x85 second exposure. More to do...


Image Details
Designation: M3 - Globular Cluster, Canes Venatici
Date/time: 29/05/05 00:50 UTC
No. Images 14
Exposure: 15 sec
Imager: Meade DSI
Mount: AP1200
OTA: C8 SCT (@F10)
Processing: Autostar suite (auto dark subtract) Fits liberator, Photoshop
URL: www.astroshack.net/gallery/M3.php

Great shot Dave. Detail right into the core! Excellet!
How did you get it to focus so well? (This I find difficult to get right!)

Dave, thats a great close-up, It gives me a 3D appearance, nice work, you're skills are improving all the time I was out myself last night variable star observing nice night, good clear skies!!

By thw way, none of the links on your site for the images work????

Keith..

Michael - focusing used to be a real pain but I've figured out how to get it as good as I can by hand.

I GOTO Jupiter and make sure at least a couple of Galillean moons are in view. With the DSI I can increase the contrast so they 'bloat' significantly. I then adjust the focus to get the moon size to as small a point as I can.

When I switch the contrast back to normal, I may tweak the focus again, but its usually unecessary. I then check focus on a star or two nearby - one bright, one dim. And usually there's no change to be made.

It seems to work anyhow!

Keith - I was surprised at the 'depth' ijn the image - to be honest, its down to processing. I think the depth is due to the small 'halo' around each (bright)star - if you olook close, you'll see them. Its a processing artifact but it makes the image better, in my opinion.

The image links appear to work from this end but there seems to be a delay from when you click on the link to when the image appears - maybe 4 or 5 seconds. I'm not sure why - I'll have to check it out. Try again and see if waitng a few seconds helps. The M3 image is only about 90K and its the biggest one on the site...

Do you image any variables? Or is it just visual? I'd be interested in learning more (as if there wasn't enough on my plate as it is )

Cheers for the feedback and comments.

Dave McD

Just visual Dave, someday I'll get that Irish nova/supernova

Keith..

Great shot Dave.
Its well resolved and focused and the tracking seems to be bang on.
Whats next on the list.?