Beginner DS objects for Astrophotography?

[mikejz]

I just put together my astrophotography rig (Meade 10" f/6.3) setup. I am looking for a few suggestions on objects to try in light polluted location. Also, the scope is non-goto so I need to be able to find them easily.

 

[nevers]

Hi Mike -<br /><br />I know you said you don't have "GoTo" but do you have at least a clock drive on your mount? If not, I hate to say it but you'll never be able to do astrophotography with the 10". I've never tried to use the slow-motion Alt/Az controls but maybe it is possible.<br /><br />Without tracking, you'll be able to take astropix of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn. But you'll have to use a stacking program to stack single frames once you've taken them.<br /><br />Anyway...good objects for light-polluted skies would be M13, M15, M31 (sort of) and the Double-Cluster later at night. You can visit my website and go to the Astrophotography section. There is a page that has pix I've taken with a 100mm (3.9") Refractor from my backyard near downtown Las Vegas. However, at the time I used a clock drive but did not take multiple shots. I took only one shot, copied it many times (up to 100) and them stacked them so they are not as good as they could be.<br /><br />Hope I could be of some help...keep us posted. (Oh, in the "Urban Astronomy" thread, I have a pic of M15 that was taken with my 5" Refractor using Autostar and RegiStax.)

 

[mikejz]

Its Clock Drive, and I have a Off-Axis Guider.

 

[Saiph]

Shoot, run down the Messier list for starters. Always been fond of the trifid myself. It gives you a fun challenge trying to get the nebulosity without overexposing the central star. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"This is my Timey Wimey Detector.  Goes "bing" when there's stuff.  It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually.  I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[nevers]

Hi Mike - <br /><br />Clock drive is good...Go for the M-List as Saiph suggested. I chose the objects I did because they are high in the sky with less atmosphere and LP to look through. I'd be very interested to see your results. I hope you post them somewhere we can see them. Keep us updated please...! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[rvastro]

Are you using film or CCD?<br /><br />For film the brighter objects such as the planets, moon, globular and open cluster are great first prime focus targets. <br />But first, I would highly recommend starting out by using the piggyback method. You will get a lot of practice in guiding-plus you will obtain good shots on the first attempts.