M17 Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, or Lobster Nebula Sagittarius

Date: 6/18/2007

Location: Bryce Canyon star party parking lot

Conditions: 0% moon, seeing 7/10, transparency 8/10, temperature 61 F

Telescope: C8 Celestron 8" scope, prime focus, with diagonal.

Mount: Losmandy G11, Gemini goto, polar scope used to align

Guide Scope: Televue 85mm refractor, 600mm focal length, F7, diagonal, Images Source DMK21AF04 camera 1 sec exposures using PHD guiding software.

Camera: Canon Rebel 300d

Focusing: Used Canon right angle finder on bright star Antares.

Exposures: (10) 5 min raw, 800 ISO

Processing: IP 2.82 - digital development, sharpened using adaptive Richardson Lucy, Photoshop CS; levels, - sized for web.

Comments: Focus may be off. I used the Honda 1000 watt generator for power, but even the mild noise subtracts from the outdoor experience. Must find a battery solution with inverter to run the laptop, digital Rebel, and the Images Source camera. I think my 100watt inverter is OK, so I just need to purchase a large battery.