Some Pics from last night

[carlos_dfc]

Taken with a mid-range digital camera on a tripod - while I was visually cluster-hunting with a Celestron C8-SCT telescope.

Moon and Mars - With the Gemini twins, Castor and Pollux above.


Hyades star cluster in Taurus - including the enormous Red Giant star Aldebaran, and double-star Theta Tauri (a.k.a. OΣΣ-10)


Pleiades star cluster (the Seven Sisters) in Taurus - also known as 'Messier 45'
Note how the stars look like elongated blobs, instead of round - This is because they moved slowly during the 8 sec exposure, accentuated by using high 'zoom'


Widefield of the constellation 'Orion'


The stargazing season (Autumn through winter, into spring) has finally begun 'in-proper' when the whole of the mighty hunter is up in the sky before 4am

[nytecam]

Great images Carlos - off to bed before Orion rose last night but, to return the complement, here's M45 OC

[carlos_dfc]

Thanks

That's a great M45 - I really do need to get a cam capable of more than a measly 8 sec exposure.