M3

Looking for objects to image I decided on Messier 3.  My first and only image of this Globular cluster was a terrible looking 3-minute 20-second total exposure taken over 3 years ago after I upgraded the stock focuser on the ED80 for a Moonlite Dual Speed focuser. M3 is Globular Cluster with about 500,000 stars and 33,000 light-years from Earth located in the constellation of Canes Venatici.  Like most most globular clusters it is not in the galactic plane but is found above it.  Ironically, M3 is known to be a metal-rich cluster whereas M53 which I imaged the same night is a noteworthy metal-poor cluster.

I captured M3 the same night I did M53 so again I used Stellarium to control my mount.  I understand this maybe old news to most but it is new to me.  I made a written tutorial and video (though not Astrobackyard quality) of how I control my mount using Stellarium and posted on my website:

http://astroquest1.blogspot.com/2018/05/controlling-go-to-mount-with-stellarium.html

It should work for most other mounts as well.  I think the next step in this progression will be using EQMOD to have total control of my mount and for plate solving but that will be while.

Crop

Wide Field

M3
Location: Happy Frog Observatory, Monroe, CT
Date: 05-08-18
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), AstroPhotography Tool APT)
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ (HEQ5)
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 46 x 90s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 10 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/