We have recently acquired a good telescope. You can tell if a telescope is truly good or not before focusing it on the stars: if you have 6 or more weeks of cloudy or rainy weather after buying it, it must be a good 'scope!
This is our first attempt at a photograph with the instrument. Although the "seeing" wasn't particularly good. (You could see atmospheric turbulence through the eyepiece) the image is good for computer backgrounds.
This one image is assembled from four taken at one observing session with the same camera settings. Even half of the moon is too large for the telescope's long focal length. Also note that the aperture of the 'scope is rated F/10, but it is reported F/11 because of the central obstruction. (It is a "Advanced Ritchley Chretian" design)
You can zoom the following version of the image to see the detail that the camera can capture.
|
|
The camera recorded the following information in the original image file:
Nikon D2X
2007/08/04 03:17:35.3
Color
Data Format: RAW (12-bit)
Compression: None
Image Size: Large (4288 x 2848)
Lens: Meade LX200R
Focal Length: 2500mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Spot
1/125 sec - F/11
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Color Mode: Mode II (Adobe RGB)
Hue Adjustment: 0
Gerald & Irmgard Carter
White Balance: Direct Sunlight
AF Mode: Manual
Tone Comp: Less Contrast
Saturation: Normal
Sharpening: None
Long Exposure NR: Off
High ISO NR: Off