Late December back in '02, what a very special time for me... as I remember what a (crystal clear moonless) night...

Sorry, couldn't help myself with that allusion to Frankie Valli... now that we have that out of the way, on to the astrophotos.  After the Pat's miraculous come from behind victory over the dolphins (which turned out to be meaningless) I wheeled the 12" SCT out of the garage and got aimed at the pleides and was up and photographing in under an hour.  The wind was kicking up a bit which is why some of the photos show tiny star trails in right ascension (the ST-4 was getting virtually no corrections on the y-axis but was bouncing all over the place on the x-axis).  All photos taken with Kodak LE400 from Bedford, NH on either 12-27-02 or 12-29-02.

This shot was taken at the same time as the one on the left.  40 and 20 minutes through the f/7 refractor.  While this shot is clearly saturated, and has probably reached the limit for my slightly light polluted skies, the one on the left clearly needs more exposure.

This was my first attempt at prime focus of the horsehead nebula.  It's fainter than I thought.  This is a stack of a 20 and 40 minute exposure.  Note the slight trailing in right ascension, this is due, I believe, to the wind.  Shot with the 12" LX200 f/10 SCT.

I'm not giving up on the crab until I have a shot to be proud of!!!  I'm getting there, this is probably my best to date (12-27-02).  This is a stack of two 20 minute exposures, the second one I had hopes of 40-60 minutes but clouds rolled in so I called it a night.  12" LX200 f/10 SCT.

Well this was an interesting accident.  Sunday 12-29-02 I was shooting a 50 minute exposure of the crab nebula, I knew there were going to be RA star trails because of the wind, but I had no idea that a planetary visitor was in the field of view!  That's saturn in the lower left hand corner.  A single 50 minute exposure, prime focus, 12" LX200 F/10 SCT.

This is my first shot of the Pleides this year.  This is a stack of 40+20+20 minute exposures.  The reflection nebulosity kind of gets washed out in the sky glow of Manchester, but I'll try again, maybe a skyglow filter will help some.  shot with the f/7 refractor.