This image was taken using the Meade f3.3 focal reducer on my 8" f10 LX 200.    I finally obtained an adapter to allow me to couple the MX-5C to the Meade f3.3 focal adapter using the T-4 adapter rings supplied with the focal reducer.  This allowed me to achieve a focal ratio of 3.3.  The horizontal pixel scale is 3.4 arcsec per pixel.   The image is a composite of four 5 minute exposures autoguided with the STAR 2000.  My skies were very bright when these images were taken and a single 10 minute exposure saturated my CCD camera.   However, you can just barely see the companion galaxy NGC 4248.  They were first color converted with in AstroArt and then further processed  in Photoshop.   Total exposure is 20 minutes.    Click here to go back.