Astrophotos

Location: Mount Pinos, CA
Date: October 4-5, 2002
Subject: IC2118 in Eridanus
Exposure: Three 60-min. exposures combined and adjusted in Adobe Photoshop
Telescope: Megrez 80mm @ f/5
Mount: Losmandy GM-8
Guiding: ST-4 autoguider
Film: Fuji Super HQ 100
Comments: IC 2118 is a large but extremely faint reflection nebula about 2.5 degrees west of the star Rigel. This object doesn't require imagination to see it's namesake. One of the most difficult objects in the sky to photograph, it requires some of the darkest skies and the most patience. This particular shot is my first attempt at imaging it and still required a great deal of processing in Photoshop to bring out the nebula. I would like to rehoot this one at a darker site and with a longer focal length scope. The spiral-shaped ghosting around the bright star near lower right is an internal reflection inside the telescope. South is up in the photo.