messing around with deep sky

Took this light nite just to try, one of the M's. This was with prime with my 1d, about 3 minutes with a six inch refractor. Looks like my polar alignment was off a hair. Second one is 40 seconds I think. This is in the LP skies of Las Vegas.

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You did well Tom, seeing M51's spiral arms pretty well in these relatively short exposures.

If you haven't started drift aligning I'd suggest you at least give a read at this link and consider the method to help fine tune your alignment. Learning this was one of the turning points for getting my exposure times up consistently.
http://www.petesastrop​hotography.com/

You'll need an illuminated reticle eyepiece to do it, they can be had for between 50 - 80 dollars.

Not bad for Vegas! What mount are you using? Your focus is a little soft, with a refractor you should be able to get very very pinpoint stars. The image is still dark, there is definitely more data there that can be stretched out, especially in the 1st one.

The fact that the 40 second and 3 minute exposures trailed the same amount makes me think it might be something else doing the trailing like not being properly balanced or vibrations or something.

Not bad, good framing. Not easy to find always...

Hi, and thanks everyone. : ) OI was using an Hypertuned Atls, but only a quick polor alignment, was planing on only visual. The scope was pointed all most strait up. I had a hard time getting my eye to the veiw finder, the camera was next to a leg. I did not want to pull of to get focus, because I did not think they would come out at all. : )