This page shows our efforts at wide-field imaging using an Orion 80ED APO refractor with a native focal ratio of f/7.5.  A SAC-8 with a SAC f/6.3 Focal Reducer was used to arrive at an effective Focal Ratio of 7.5 * 0.63 = f/4.7. Our impression of the Orion 80ED is that we like it...a lot!  We wanted a scope that would produce a wide-field, and the 80ED really delivered nicely. In addition, this scope was given to me as an anniversary gift  from my wife, Becky...thanks Becky! Our Orion 80ED currently resides on a Meade LXD55 mount.

Smaller aperture scopes (i.e. 80mm) won't typically show as much detail as larger aperture setups. However, smaller aperture with a nice wide field  helps maintain the "outer space" context of the object and creates a perspective as if you were approaching the object in a space ship. The wide field provides a new and very interesting view of deep space objects.

	M31, the Great Andromeda Galaxy with the Orion ED 80. Our nearest neighbor but notably larger than our own galaxy. The large CMOS chip in the XTi allowed us to capture the entire galaxy in one single shot. Companion galaxies M32 and M110 also visible.
	M45, The Pleiades, with a pretty fair anount of nebulosity present. Telescope used was Orion ED 80. The lack of a flat field is noticable (vignetting on right side of reduced and cropped image). We were very happy with the nebulosity that is visible as we did not expect it! Some noise is visible in the shot. Stacking will help but this was the last shot of the night and we were out of time to take more!
	NGC-869 and NGC-884, The Double Cluster. Telescope used was Orion ED 80. Probably not the most dramatic image thus far, but the fact that it fit in a single frame drove me to take a shot.

Below is M51 with the Orion 80ED and SAC-8. The night was clear and the seeing very good...no clouds to battle this time and what a field of view!

Below is NGC4565 with the Orion 80ED. and SAC-8.

Below is M8 with the Orion 80ED. The night was clear and the seeing very good...but eventually the clouds came rushing in...which put us in a bit of a rush. Focus is now a bit off but we still managed to get 40 x 15sec! A good narrow band Ha filter would be of great value for this shot but alas, we have not ordered one...yet. An Ha filter would help eliminate the washed-out look and would also help tone-down the stars to accentuate the nebula.