Open Star Cluster M41

[Nighthound]

This was another last-of-the-night efforts, only 4 x 4 minute exposures combined.

TAK Sky 90 II APO Refractor • Losmandy G-11 wGemini • Canon 20D • 4 x 240 sec. unguided

Wide:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Astrophotography/m41wide.jpg

Crop/enlarged:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Astrophotography/m41clssm.jpg

[Adrena1in]

I do love how sharp and colourful the stars are in your photos Steve. Must get me an APO some time. ;)

[sbrooks]

Wow! You're so lucky to ger such a clear sky. Over here in England, all we get is clouds!

[Celestron]

Beautiful cluster Steve ! Great shot !

[markjpcs]

Good job Steve!

Yes Adrena1in, APOs RULE!

[Nighthound]

Thanks Tim, sbrooks, Ron and Mark.

Tim, the Sky 90 is considered to be a semi-APO due to the fact that it's only an air-spaced doublet. The triplette APOs add the extra objective to get the color correction job done better and the quads are even better. I find the small amount of chromatic aberration in the Sky 90 to be minimal and really doesn't bother me. It surprises me that I don't see more people with good things to say about it for imaging, I enjoy mine a lot and can't imagine parting with it.

[hairycrab]

Nice one!

[James Salenger]

Nice pix.

[chris.bailey]

Greg Parker uses a Sky 90 (when not using a Hyperstar setup) and he has produced some stunning work.

[Nighthound]

Thanks hairycrab, James and Chris.

Chris, yes I know Greg through another site. Great guy with a lot of talent.