Subject:M81/M82
Author: Mike Savo
Scope: ZenithStar 66 SD Doublet APO
Instruments:SXV-H9C, IDAS LPR filter, Losmandy G11 mount
Exposure time:10 frames at 10 mins each (guided - 8" Meade SCT using Meade DSI)
Place & Seeing:Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA - severe light pollution
Date:May 25 2008
Remarks:I have been doing astrophotography for about a years now. I had purchased am 80mm achromat as a guide scope. I thought I would be doing most of my photography with my 8" SCT but I found out that I needed the wider FOV in many cases. The 80 mm scope is a great guide scope but the blue fringing around the stars looks terrible when using for imaging so I purchased ZS 66. I tried it in my backyard which is very light polluted with both the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem PA lighting up the sky. I think this picture came out really nice. I should be getting to a dark site soon, I think those results will be really spectacular. This is a very nice scope at a very nice price!!