Using an 10" F/6.3 LX200, with a Pictor 1616 and a 0.33 focal reducer (all from
Meade), I have managed to get an picture of Omega Centauri from Massachusetts
(latitude 42 degrees 34 minutes north). This is no small feat given that
without refraction effects the the center of the cluster never gets above the
horizon.

Joining me was John Gall and we took five images of the cluster. The resulting
images need to be processed, processed, and then processed to remove most of the
problems do to light polution, nearly full moon, and hazy layers.

The LX200 put the object very close to the center of the CCD chip (okay, the
coverage is 1 degree by 1.5 degrees) and tracked well during each of the one
minute unguided exposures.

The resulting image is not a 'great' image but it is notable since I think it is
the most northerly taken image of Omega Centauri. There are enough stars in the
image to compare with a planetarium program to confirm that the fuzz near the
center is the center of Omega Centauri

If you would like to see the final version of the picture, go to:

http://rppass.com


and click on deepsky, and then the first thumbnail image.


Ralph Pass

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