The clouds literally rolled in as I drove back from Melbourne with my new LX75 SN 8", my first equatorial mount. Three days later the sky cleared and I set up with a rough polar positioning and 'trained the drives' as Meade instructed, entered the relavant time and lat. long. data and used the automatic two star alignment function. I pushed the button and the scope slewed to about two degrees from the first target star The second was in the field of view. I spent the next two hours at blissful play, then just for a try, grabed my digital camera and took some afocals of Tuc 47. 20 mm lens f4 15s exposure at ISO400, (All I can get from my little digi). Very fuzzy and I know I have to tighten up and practice my alignment but I just couldnt help but post some first light. Thumb is REALLY compressed. Full below.

Kind regards
Matt

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...uc47201007.jpg

Attached Images

tuc47 201007comp.jpg (135.0 KB, 43 views)

Nice pic Matt.

47 TUC is another great object we can't see up here.

Very nice photo on your first light Matt, Know your equipment well and the results will be Great Welldone. Clear skies

Thanks for the encouragement. My second night was better but the skys just don't want to co-operate. Keep posting those shots of Holmes, it only clears my horizon by 3 degrees.

Kind regards
Matt

Attached Images

tuc47.jpg (113.2 KB, 3 views)