SDM #035 first light and photos

[alexch]

Hi All,

As some of you already know I have recently became a proud owner of SDM#35 - 22" f/3.6 Dob. After all that rain since the delivery in May and most notably the wettest Border Stargaze in Albury the weather Gods showed some mercy and first deep-sky photons hit the mirror last night. The site is not truly dark but quite usable.

The highlight of the night was the Grus trio which looked spectacular with some excellent detail. Helix with OIII was good as well as Saturn Planetary. Jupiter was nice and crisp with excellent detail and contrast. ServoCat and Argo worked brilliantly too.

But best of all - I can fit the 22", 2 kids and my wife into a family car (with luggage in a roof box). Peter Read measured the boot and designed the scope to fit. We exchanged countless emails and phone calls and the the result is a very sturdy structure that is a pure joy to use.

I'll sure be going to more star parties now and sharing the views :).

I took some photos last night (attached) and here is a link to the day-time photos on SDM website:
http://www.sdmtelescopes.com.au/SDM035.html

Cheers,
Alex

[ballaratdragons]

Niiiiiiiiiiice :)

Hope I get to see through it Alex :thumbsup:

[sheeny]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thum bsup::thumbsup:

Al.

[strongmanmike]

A 22" F3.6 :eyepop:beautiful... is that not just the perfect dob :thumbsup:

...?...I want one! ...better ring Orion Optics and cancel my silly little 12" F3.8 astrograph :rolleyes: ;)

You coming to IISAC Alex?

Mike

[mental4astro]

Ooooooh!, Who's a happy boy now!

I'm gonna have to big up a few more challenging targets for the Challenge. Hmmm...

:thumbsup: , onya, mate.

[h0ughy]

well that is a nice looking scope - great photos as well mate

[gary]

Hi Alex,

Love the scope, love the color you chose, love the name.

Fabulous pictures too!

Thanks for also choosing Argo Navis.

Enjoy!

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Phone +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[erick]

That looks so good! :thumbsup:

[pgc hunter]

Great report and awesome scope, welcome to the club ;) Great scopes these, Peter includes everything needed for every crappy condition the astro gods can chuck at us :D And geez first light 3 months after pick up...new world record for new scope curse? I got lucky with mine, got it out 5 times in the first month...you musta been cursing and suffering like hell lol

I've used my sdm on Saturn, and the contrast is awesome. Literally a knife edge definition between the bright globe and the ring shadows, even in the usual sub-ordinary seeing.

Love the Grus quartet, very nice set of galaxies but like most southern objects, practically unknown.

[astroron]

Nice one Alex, more Idea's to make my scope lighter:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[wavelandscott]

Please enjoy that glorious piece of gear!

[alexch]

Of course, Ken - all you need to do now is organise clear skies for Snake Valley in November (now that the "new equipment curse" for Nyx has been broken) :lol:

[alexch]

It is for me, Mike - the eypiece height at zenith is just where my eye is. And it fits in the car with all others, my 12" Skywatcher didn't :)

Not coming to IISAC but I should be at Snake Valley.

Cheers,
Alex

[alexch]

Thanks Gary,

My 6 y.o. daughter chose the colour - it was as close to pink as she could get.

That's my second scope with Argo Navis and would not have it any other way - thank you for providing such a wonderful kit!

Alex

[alexch]

Indeed I am :)

I enjoy your challenges (when it is clear in Melbourne...)

[alexch]

Thanks David. I took the first photo one whilst it was cooling down and the rest after the observing session.

[alexch]

It does include everything you can think of and even more :)
After about 12 months wait the 3 months of cloud cover were a torture indeed...

[alexch]

Thanks guys - I am very happy with the scope. Peter Read makes wonderful instruments, there aren't enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe his work and attitude.

[Paddy]

Magnificent telescope, Alex. 22" is a truly wonderful aperture! And I like the way you got one of your spectacular Milky Way views into the photo of your scope.

[Ric]

Congrats on a beautiful looking scope Alex

The pictures are fantastic against the night sky backdrop.

Cheers

[alexch]

Ric, Patrick - thanks!

South-Eastern skies are quite reasonable on the Mornington Peninsula so the Milky Way came out nicely on the photos.

[gb_astro]

Beautiful scope Alex.

That semi-compact design must save a quite bit of weight.

I thought Peter had stopped using Kydex for UTAs though??

gb.

[mbaddah]

Beautiful scope Alex congratulations! 22" is very nice :D

That's one more SDM Peter can cross off before getting to my one :)

[alexch]

It's very manageable, the mirror box is about 25kg and rocker box with servocat and the drives - another 20kg. I can lift it myself but prefer to keep it in one piece and use ramps.

The UTA is black stained plywood, not Kydex.

[alexch]

I know the feeling whilst waiting for mine :lol:. The result was worth every second of the wait though.

[Louwai]

Welcome to the SDM club Alex. You will have stunning views & an amazing scope for years to come.

B

[spacezebra]

Congrats Alex and welcome to the SDM club. Excellent shots of the scope.

Cheers Petra d.

[alexch]

Thanks Petra.

Yours was the first scope I admired on SDM website and I wanted the same :) Somehow over time the UC Design transformed into the semi-compact version.

I will definitely be taking the scope with me to BSG for years to come.

Alex

[Octane]

How did I miss this!

Holy moly, that is beautiful, mate. I can only imagine how good globular clusters must look through that thing. Waa waa!

Congratulations on the new gear. I look forward to catching up with you on the tennis court (or are you going to defect to the visual field?) at the next Border Stargaze. ; )

H

[alexch]

Thanks, H!

It will be set up on the tennis court - it is too convenient and I enjoy the company of astro-imagers :)

It's a shame we did not get to talk much at BSG (my fault), are you coming to Snake Valley in November?

Cheers,
Alex

[Octane]

I don't think I will be going to Snake Valley in November, at this stage.

But, will be going in March. : )

H

[lacad01]

Great looking scope, hope you get heaps of viewing enjoyment with it. Top photos as well :thumbsup:

[Dave47tuc]

Very Nice scope Alex, Peters SDM's are super :thumbsup:

Hope to get a sneak peek some time :astron:

[Jen]

:eyepop:wow Alex very very nice :thumbsup::thumbsup: im soooo jealous
So i get to have a look through this baby at Snake Valley woohoooo cant wait :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Starkler]

Well if two 22 inchers are showing up to snake valley I'll leave my scope at home :D

Congrats on the lovely scope :thumbsup:

[Jen]

Oh no Geoff :rolleyes: your not getting out of it that easy your bringing yours cause i know how to use your scope ;):P