Leo Triplet, 2015-04-13 00:30, Manche

[The Thing]

Telescope aperture and focal ratio:   LX90 8" UHTC, Baader Alan Gee II Telecompressor, HEQ5 (bearings replaced and belt mod)
Camera and filters used:   1000D Modded, IDAS LPS-D1 clip filter, 15x300s @iso800
Processing applied:   DSS, CS2

I have a lot more subs from the previous night but the colour balance is way off for some reason and I can't seem to correct it.

[Kenny]

Fantastic image Duncan. You have FAR too much dark sky time on your hands. 

[The Thing]

This was just a quicky to check my setup is perfect   . Trouble is the moles keep undermining the tripod legs and the neighbours donkey just laughs at me trying to polar align as it sinks. It'll be a next year before I have a pier installed at this rate, bloomin' builders .

[RachelC]

Flipping gorgeous Duncan. Not jealous at all...not one little bit! 

[MarkH]

That's great Duncan, any idea what causes the fuzziness around the largest star?

[The Thing]

I think it's a galaxy!

[MarkH]

Or a massive cluster possibly 

[Carole]

Some good detail in this Duncan.

I think it's a galaxy!

No it's a star - Stellarium calls it HIP55262
Magnitude 7.10

Carole

[MarkS]

That's a really nice result - well done!

Mark

[JohnP]

That looks excellent Duncan - nice to see you posting up some more deep sky stuff of late...  - John

[Carole]

nice to see you posting up some more deep sky stuff of late

Yes, I think Duncan is enjoying his regular dark skies.

Carole

[Fay]

Really nice triplet Duncan, you are getting spoilt over there!!!