M 13 Globular Cluster in Hercules
Date: May 6, 2000
Location: Harry Kindt's North West Ohio Dark Sky Home
Equipment: 10" f10 Meade SCT, G11, ST4, ETX Guide Scope
Conditions: Mag 5.5 - Steady Sky
Film: Kodak Supra 400
Exposure: 20 minutes
Comments: This was just about the first attempt at long exposure prime focus photography with the 10". Out of 7 exposures only two of M13 came out at all and tracking / focus could be better on these. Various problems plagued the other shots. I had trailing in the "Stargate Asterism" shot and the three 30 minute exposures of the M81 - M82 area were victims of reciprocity failure. Not much on the negatives at all. I had a bit of trouble getting the ST4 in focus using the Lumicon Giant Easy Guider. I ended up using Jack Kennedy's ETX as a guide scope (thanks Jack). I need to adapt the Taurus Tracker to the 10". This will make focus and guiding much easier. Still - on the first attempt I am not too disappointed. I have learned enough to spot some problems and make the next outing easier.