Telescopes: Twin Orion Imaging StarBlasts on a single Meade LXD75
Luminance: Meade DSI Pro, IDAS LPS-2 Filter, 27x20sec saved as FITS
Color: Meade DSI, Orion Imaging SkyGlow Filter, 17x30sec saved as FITS3P
Guide scope: None
Software: Envisage, Autostar Image Processing, Photoshop

This picture was primarily taken to test the alignment and focus of my new twin StarBlast system. This system consists of two Orion 4.5” f/4 Newtonian imaging StarBlasts mounted side-by-side on a Meade LXD75. One telescope is fitted with a DSI, the other a DSI Pro so I can take luminance and color data simultaneously. I’ve used a similar system before, but this improved arrangement includes replacing the original visual StarBlast (which was used for color) with an imaging StarBlast, adding a second light imaging pollution filter (I previously used an IDAS LPS-2 on the color camera and an Orion broadband skyglow filter on the monochrome camera), and using a Bahtinov mask to focus both telescopes (I previously used a Hartman mask).

The conditions under which this image were taken were horrid with thickening clouds and heavy haze (the best evening we’ve had in about two months), but I’m thrilled with how it turned out. It’ll be fun once we get some honestly clear weather.