From: <maupperl@gmail.com>

Date: April 26, 2014 4:08:24 PM MDT

To: <Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com>

Subject: New Astro Images

Hi Folks;

Despite rain, snow and excessively high humidity and well below zero conditions, I managed to image M101 for the first time:

http://www3.telus.net/maupperl/M101_MJA_20140421.jpg

The RC8 mirror was completely iced over after the second luma frame and I went with 20 minute luma exposures to compensate. Humidity was 100% as it had rained / snowed for 3 days before and temperature was below zero. Seeing was very good at around 3 to 3.5 arc seconds FWHM - so detail level is pretty good.

I'm still not sure the colours are accurate.

Also managed to image M64 on a really odd night:

http://www3.telus.net/maupperl/M64_MJA_20140425.jpg

There was a trench of clear skies about 100 km wide and 800 km long overtop of me at Lucky Lake. To the north and south was clouds and jets stream. Seeing was around 3 arc seconds FWHM. I got three 16 minute luma frames taken before clouds finally finally rolled in and sealed the trench up. If it stops raining, I might try to acquire the RGB Data for it.

On a side note, March 22 I got flooded out of my condo due to a burst water pipe in the suite above me. So I have been living in a hotel while i dealt with movers, storage, insurance companies, finding a new place (rental market is terrible) to live and replacing destroyed furniture for most of April. If you tried contacting me by phone, you won't get in touch with me until May 6th when I move into my new place.

TTYL..

Milton Aupperle