M81 Re-process with LAB Lum channel

M81 Re-process with LAB Lum channel, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Mars in M44 011011

Mars in M44 011011 - re-processed, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

As seen on BBC The Sky at Night.

M45 Re-process.

M45 Re-process., a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Jupiter 051212 2316.jpg

Jupiter 051212 2316.jpg, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon and Planets - 111212

The Moon and Planets - 111212, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon and Planets - 111212

The Moon and Planets - 111212, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Jupiter RGB - 051212 - 22:16:48

Jupiter RGB - 051212 - 22:16:48, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Jupiter & Ganymede - 051212

Jupiter & Ganymede - 051212, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Jupiter and Io 031212 (IR)RGB

Jupiter 031212 (IR)RGB, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon 281112

The Moon 281112, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon 231112

The Moon 231112, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon 211112

The Moon 211112, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Precise GoTo

Just some quick notes lifted from the Celestron manual on how to use 'Precise GoTo'

The Celestron mounts has a precise goto function that can assist in finding extremely faint objects and centring objects closer to the centre of the field of view for astrophotography and CCD imaging.

Precise Goto automatically searches out the closest bright star to the desired object and asks the user to carefully centre it in the eyepiece. The hand control then calculates the small difference between its goto position and its centred position. Using this offset, the telescope will then slew to the desired object with enhanced accuracy.

To use Precise Goto:

1. Press the MENU button and use the Up/Down keys to select Precise Goto

2. Choose Database to select the object that you want to observe from any of the database catalogs listed.

3. Choose RA/DEC to enter a set of celestial coordinates that you wish to slew to.

4. Once the desired object is selected, the hand control will search and display the closest bright star to your desired object. Press ENTER to slew to the bright alignment star.

5. Use the direction buttons to carefully centre the alignment star in the eyepiece/camera display

6. Use this star to get an exact focus.

Press ENTER to slew to the desired object and start capturing.

Later when the scope has cooled, you may need to re-focus the optics. Just go back to step 1. and it will remember your object. Focus on the reference star and then hit enter to carry on capturing :-)

Kemble's Cascade, Camelopardalis - 161012 - as seen on Sky at Night.

Kemble's Cascade, Camelopardalis - 161012 - as seen on Sky at Night., a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Sol 84 & 85 - MSL Self-Portrait

Sol 84 & 85 - MSL Self-Portrait, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Sol 84 - MSL self-portrait.

Sol 84 - MSL self-portrait., a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon and Jupiter conjunction - 021112

The Moon and Jupiter conjunction - 021112, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon - 271012

The Moon - 271012, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Kemble's Cascade, Camelopardalis - 161012

Kemble's Cascade, Camelopardalis - 161012, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Part of The Moore Marathon No.17

M31 1hr52min ISO1600 1min subs

M31 1hr52min ISO1600 1min subs, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.
Who can resist another crack at M31?

M33 - Close-up

M33 - Close-up, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

NGC891 with spikes

NGC891 with spikes, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Cauchy, Messier A and Taruntius - 041012

Cauchy, Messier A and Taruntius - 041012, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Tycho - 041012

Tycho - 041012, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Venus and Regulus - 031012

Venus and Regulus - 031012, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Harvest Moon - 290912

Harvest Moon - 290912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

New Guitar

Sol 45 Mosaic - MSL

Sol 45 Mosaic - MSL, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

M45 - 161110 - with spikes

M45 - 161110 - with spikes, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

M33 - Combined 2011/12 data

M33 - Combined 2011/12 data, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

M33 from 150912

M33 Version 3, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Rover Wheels - MSL

Rover Wheels - MSL, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon - 090912

The Moon - 090912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Copernicus and Fra Mauro - 090912

Copernicus and Fra Mauro - 090912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Copernicus & Eratosthenes - 080912

Copernicus & Eratosthenes - 080912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Plato and Sinus Iridum - 080912

Plato and Sinus Iridum - 080912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus, Arzachel et al. 080912

Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus, Arzachel et al. 080912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon - 080912

The Moon - 080912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

0032MH0040000000E1_DXXX

0032MH0040000000E1_DXXX, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Aristarchus - 070912

Aristarchus - 070912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Pitatus - 070912

Pitatus - 070912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Mare Imbrium - 070912

Mare Imbrium - 070912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Rima Hyginus - 070912

Rima Hyginus - 070912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Moon prime focus - 070912

Moon prime focus - 070912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus, Arzachel - 060912

Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus, Arzachel - 060912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Rupes Altai - 060912

Rupes Altai - 060912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Clavius and Tycho - 060912

Clavius and Tycho - 060912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon - 060912

The Moon - 060912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

Clavius and Tycho - 050912

Clavius and Tycho - 050912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.

The Moon - 050912

The Moon - 050912, a photo by Mick Hyde on Flickr.