M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
by Barry Lindner of Fresno
CA
Photographer Comments:
[Actually, this is the Equipment Owner's Comments, written by Scott Loucks.] We were just sitting in the control room that night enjoying some drink. We made a run at one PHA and then I gave Barry control of the telescope, showed him how to pick off objects from TheSky, slew the telescope, and take the image. After that I couldn't yank him away from the controls. This was the object he settled on. Not bad for a first attempt!
Photo from LAMP
Observatory, New River, AZ
February, 2008
Celestron 11 (inch) SCT and ST-402ME CCD
Five 45
second exposures stacked
Digitally processed to sharpen image