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Taken on August 12, 2004 from my backyard in Castro Valley, California
Takahashi FCT-76 imaging scope with Takahashi Focal reducer, f/4.5, F=342mm. This is the telescope that was used by Jay McNeil to discover his now-famous McNeil's Nebula back in January of 2004. I purchased the telescope from Jay in April of 2004.
Finger Lakes IMG6303E imaging camera at -37C (first light for camera) (here is the first flat: right click and then select "save target as" [ FIT , JPEG] )
Astro-Physics 80/900mm guidescope with adjustable rings
SBIG ST7E guide camera at -15C
Astro-Physics AP900GTO mount
FLI DF2 Digital Focuser
FLI CFW1 Color Filter Wheel
Custom Scientific AR-Coated narrowband emission line filters (50mm unmounted)
Ha 656.4nm CWL, 3nm FWHM
three exposures of 15 minutes Ha filter
Total exposure time = 45 minutes