Manai'a Explorations
HC SVNT DRACONES

Shot the same night as the horsehead. This is a tough subject because the nebula is very faint, but the stars behind it are VERY bright. The trick is to shoot an image for the highlights, then shoot another image for the faint details, and combine the two images in Photoshop. I didn't put that much work into this image. Next time.

From my Tucson backyard a few weeks ago. It was almost a full moon and the moonlight was blasting into my telescope - not exactly ideal conditions. This is the Horsehead Nebula in Orion. Wedge and fork mounted Celestron C8 telescope with Starizona's Hyperstar optics, Starlight Xpress SXVF-M25C camera, Maxim DL software, multiple unguided exposures ranging from 20 to 120 seconds. I hope to make time during good viewing conditions to do more astrophotography. I am certainly not limited by my equipment.

From the backyard this evening. Blindingly bright.   600mm f4 Circular Polarizer 2X teleconverter Nikon D80 1/1000, f8, ISO 800