Well it’s been a few months since I’ve been able to get the scope out – mostly down to the weather, but also the summer nights being so light has limited my viewing oportunities.

So after blowing the dust and cobwebs off the equipment I set about trying to remember how it all goes together. It didn’t take too long, but it was after 10pm before I could make out Polaris in the polar alignment scope.  Only Arcturus was bright enough for me to make sure my finder was aligned and get the camera pointing in the same direction.  It was touch and go, I thought the camera had packed in after being left for so long, but after disconnecting the USB cable and restarting Artemis Capture, eventually I got the bright blob of an out of focus Arcturus, just off centre.

A quick refocus, and 3-star alignment with EQMOD and I’m off.  Arcturus is conveniently situated it you’re looking to find a globular cluster and I was able to get short-exposure shots of M3, M5, M10 and M53.  I’m getting some movement in the mount so keeping exposures down to sub 20 seconds.  I did try 25seconds on M64 – the blackeye galaxy- but most of the frames  showed east/west movement.

M106 is missing from my catalogue of Messier objects so as I’m moving northwards from M10 in the South to M81 I’ve stopped at M106 along the way.  Not too much detail to be seen on 15 second exposures, but I’m hoping if I get enough of them I’ll be able to add this one to the gallery.

Moving on to M81 I’m sticking with the short exposures and trying to get as many 12 second shots as I can before I have to pack up for the night.  Just a short session tonight, but it’s nice to make sure everything is still working.

M3 Globular Cluster	M10 Globular Cluster	M53 Globular Cluster
M106 Galaxy	M81 Bode’s Galaxy