I've read several posts in the "equipment" section of this forum asking what can be seen with a 10" scope. Here's what can be seen with a 10" f4.8 newt (if you have real good eyes).

This is a photo of the galaxy M81 in Ursa Major. It's about 12 million ly away, but its big, and bright. By the way, that's the dwarf galaxy, Holmberg IX (UGC5336) above it (not big and bright).

I'm not satisfied with the processing yet, but a revisit will wait for a first pass on the M82 image that is also waiting on the computer.

Robert

www.galacticphotography.com

Nice shot, very good detail. What kind of camera did u use?

I feel obliged to point out that, even through 30-inch and larger telescopes, galaxies, even bright ones such as M81, simply do not look anywhere as good through an eyepiece as they do in images, no matter how good an observer's eyesight may be.

Dave Mitsky

For the visual observers among us, that did not get the "exaggeration" concerning "good" eyes, here is an example of a single 6min lum exposure taken through the 10" newt. This was one of several used to make the posted photo. It represents a collection of photons (360sec) about X3000 greater than the 0.1 to 0.15 sec that the typical person's fixed stare involves. The actual multiple may be more like X500-X1000 due to persistence/memory. As a reference, those fortunate few, using a 1m newt for observation, would have about X16 the light gathering area of the 10" newt.

One additional note, the FOV of this photo is about the same as a Televue 15mm plossl, 12mm radian, or 9mm nagler type 6 on this scope.

Answering the camera question, the SXV-H9 was used. Additional photo details are at:

http://www.galacticphotography.com/astro_new_photos_6.html

With a 25mm Plössl (48xMagnification) in an Orion XT10 this is what M81 and M82 will look like under reasonably dark steady skies..

Have A Nice _________

Well now I know what my next telescope is going to be  That is truly an amazing picture Robert!

Looks like a good reason to move to New Mexico, buy a 30" Obsession, and the 12ft ladder needed to get to the eyepiece.

 Robert

I don't get it. I guess you were talking to tkerr, not me.

WOW! I just saw a picture of the 30" Obsession. That's a monster! Does anyone on this forum have one of those?

galactic_photog:

Looks like a good reason to move to New Mexico, buy a 30" Obsession, and the 12ft ladder needed to get to the eyepiece.

 Robert

LOL

No, Not New Mexico!  I never have liked the desert climate.  If I were to make a move, why not Mauna Kea Hawaii and be above the clouds giving you more than 300 days a year to observer..  Ahh,, What a life that would be.

Have A Nice _________

The summit of the Haleakala Crater on Maui is a good spot too. Once I get familiar with my equipment, I'll probably do most of my observing and astrophotography up there. I can't wait

If the wind up on those Hawaiian hills is like the wind on the hills that I've visited in Ca., you'll need to chain your equipment to spikes in the rock!

I'd be very satisfied with the views above the clouds in Hawaii, even if the chains are required.

Robert

Yeah, there are some high winds up there. I think I'll throw my tent spikes and ropes in the bag with my telescope when I go up there next time, just in case. Thanks for the tip Robert

It's also really cold up there. Sometimes below freezing with the wind chill factor. You might forget you're in Hawaii after a while. LOL

Moon Patrol:

The summit of the Haleakala Crater on Maui is a good spot too. Once I get familiar with my equipment, I'll probably do most of my observing and astrophotography up there. I can't wait

Clouds on 'the place of the sun' crater still ruins many a FTN session for me!

Great shots BTW

galactic_photog:

For the visual observers among us, that did not get the "exaggeration" concerning "good" eyes, here is an example of a single 6min lum exposure taken through the 10" newt.

There are a great many complete novices on these forums so it is important not to make statements, tongue-in-cheek or otherwise, that will only serve to misinform or confuse them.

Cheers,

Dave Mitsky