This image is a comparison of my attempts to image M13 over the past three years. If you are just starting out, or if are looking at upgrading your equipment, the images may give you some idea of how things may change over time. Each year I did the best I could to develop a good image, and I was happy with each result at the time. In fact, the 2016 image was my first astrophotography attempt, and the resulting image exceeded my wildest expectations at the time.
All three images used the same:
- Type of Scope (Apochromatic Refractor, 130mm Aperture, 1000m Focal Length)
- Camera (ZWO ASI 1600MM-C)
- Imaging Location (Backyard)
- Processing tools
- I cropped and rotated so that each image has the same orientation and field of view.
The differences in these images are:
- Between images 2016 & 2017, I did a warranty exchange of my Orion EON 130 scope due to pinched optics, plus I upgraded my Atlas mount to a MACH1GTO.
- Between images 2017 & 2018, I upgraded to a Tak 130 scope and added an automatic focuser.
- Integration time increased each year.
- I hope that my imaging and processing ability increased somewhat each year.
I am not sure how the seeing varied each of the nights.
It is surprising to me how different each of these images are of the same object. I am fairly certain that the object itself is not changing
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