Hi,
I did get out last night, and even though the moon was about I have a quick couple of hours on M82 with the Meade 8".
Details
Luminance Astronomik CLS Filter, 12x5 minutes
Ha Astronomik Ha filter , 6 x 10 Minutes
Scope at F6.7 FL= 1340mm on EQ6, guiding .03 pixel dec, .08 pixel ra, really good guiding must have been the direction the scope was pointing.
Anyway, I'm really please with this image because of the roundness of the stars after a good collimation session.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3333145313_4f946f6b2d_b.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/3333982276_d21d5a5eef_b.jpg)
Thats very nice detail for such short exposures and as you say good guiding too. You did well, I thought last night started off looking ok but by 11pm I could only see first and second magnitude stars. It's showing good potential with the Ha.
Yup it was not a good night tried to do M95 but the moon and haze were too much, i'd love to do m82 from a dark site.
Wow - up close & personal.... Looks great at that FL - Tons of detail & colour is great. A really nice image - John
Here is a crop of a full size frame, makes me wonder what a 4mpix camera would be like!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/3335122104_25bcab815f_o.jpg)
Or an 8.3 ...
stop it, that would be tempting!
how about 161M :o
9600*16800
Cooled to -100C
http://arxiv.org/ftp/astro-ph/papers/0702/0702590.pdf (http://arxiv.org/ftp/astro-ph/papers/0702/0702590.pdf)
page 25.
Sounds like the sort of ccd that you'd fit a telescope to...
Just noticed he title 'Luninance' ... very topical !