M42(Orion nebula) using my DIY Barn Door Tracker.

After 8 months of researching, building and learning to write code for a microprocessor, I finally got into the garden to test my Arduino driven, straight rod Barn Door mount.

 Its not only more portable and faster to set up (including polar alignment) than my Meade Etx 105, its also more sturdy . I have used the Meade tripod for stability along with my home made wedge which is now used on both barn door and Meade. This image was taken on a Canon 40D with 70-200 f/4 lens @ 200mm. I was really interested on the roundness of the stars as this would indicate that my calculations and programming for driving the mount were out. Tonight also was very windy so I was delighted when I staked only three 30 second images to reveal this image.