My 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens arrived yesterday. These photos aren't quite first light, but they're the first real attempt to photograph something of consequence with the lens. These were really just to test the lens, and I'd say it was quite a success. Now I need another clear night and a few hours to actually do it well and right (longer exposures, flatfield, etc.).

I've been wanting to do some wide-field high-resolution photos of the Milky Way's heart for a few years now, and I think I finally have the equipment to do it reasonably well (at least from Boulder with light pollution and bad seeing, anyway).

These two photos are 25% size. The first one is centered around M8 (the Lagoon Nebula), while the second is centered a little higher up, around M17 (the Omega or Swan Nebula). They were taken at f/3.2 instead of f/2.8 to make 'em slightly sharper. Also visible are M20 and M21 in the top, and M16, M18, M23, M24, and M25 in the bottom.

I can attach a version with labels if folks want.

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"Why do something now when you can put it off 'til later?" -- me :)

Looks like you're ready for some widefield work. The bottom shot is of an interesting area.

Robert

Great wide angle shots of our galaxy's core, Congrats on your first successful astro image on your new equipment.

Very nice widefield shots! Please, keep them coming.

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Observatorio de la Ballona