M8 with small RC

[telecasterguru (Frank)]

Peter,

I am fairly impressed with the image. What mount did you use? If the 10" is as good I will more than likely buy one. I suppose that will mean a new mount, a new camera.....

Can't wait.

Frank

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by telecasterguru

Peter,

I am fairly impressed with the image. What mount did you use? If the 10" is as good I will more than likely buy one. I suppose that will mean a new mount, a new camera.....

Can't wait.

Frank

PME...but only as it was convenient. The 10" will be a big step up price wise...over double the $$ for only 36% more light.

The carbon-fibre OTA is quite light. On a par with a Celestron 8, but significantly shorter focal length, hence I'd expect it would work well with Vixen SP, Eq5, Taka Em10/11, G-8.

Anything bigger (EQ6, G-11 Taka Em200) is nice as you could easily run two different OTA's side by side.

[Peter Ward]

In response to those who have asked me off list to provide an uncropped image.. here 'tis, warts and all (same URL)

http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/images/GSO/gsom8.html

(also a re-do as I got some good twilight flats this evening)

[Paul Haese]

Ah nice work Peter. This object does not show reflections. I have only found them on two object, M83 and NGC4945. The stock focusor has been modded since my initial review and talks with GSO. So it should be much more stable. The baffle has also since been worked to prevent reflections too.

Yes, they may not be an RCOS but they are very good for the price.

This certainly gives me some hope for the new camera coming my way. Might get better stars than I have been in the past.

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

I wonder how much the 10" will go for out here in Aussie land...if the 12" isn't too high, I'd be very tempted by it.

Dave

edit: oops, my apologies Peter, that's a fine image, good detail. Is this ia newer GSO RC version with fixed focuser/reflection issues?

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by dpastern

Peter, that's a fine image, good detail. Is this ia newer GSO RC version with fixed focuser/reflection issues?

Dave...as I mentioned earlier the 10" will probably go for around $A4.5k...big price step for 36% more light.

The new (i.e. this one) 8" GSO RC's have had a lot of issues addressed.

I did not adjust the colimation as I was curious to see the "out of the box" performance.

With a few tweaks, I am sure the eggy stars on the right edge of the image (this explains why the left image edge is remarkably good: at the right's expense) would be much tighter.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Andrews is advertising the 10" for $3499, for an August delivery.

Still $1300 more than the 8"

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by renormalised

Andrews is advertising the 10" for $3499, for an August delivery.

Still $1300 more than the 8"

Yep...sorry, a typo on my part $3.5k is about right.

My only caveat would be, as the aperture goes up so do a whole lot of tolerance issues.

eg. there are some very ordinary 6" refractors out there.

I'd much rather have an very good smaller aperture scope than an average larger instrument.

GSO have been receptive to criticism and made changes accordingly. the 10" RC could be a very interesting scope.

[renormalised (Carl)]

If they keep the same quality control on the bigger optics and tube manufacturing, and it works as well as the 8" out of the box, it should be a ripper when finely collimated.

Might be worth every cent of $3499.

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Thanks Peter. I didn't even notice the eggy stars on the right hand side, I'm showing my still newbishness to astro imaging

The GSO still shows good promise. Of course, you're very good at astro imaging, so the final result is at least partly due to your ability to coax out the best in the gear. Something like this would be a long term interest for me, although I need to be getting good images out of my current gear before I can justify upgrading, no matter how tempting it is.

Dave

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Dave...as I mentioned earlier the 10" will probably go for around $A4.5k...big price step for 36% more light.

The new (i.e. this one) 8" GSO RC's have had a lot of issues addressed.

I did not adjust the colimation as I was curious to see the "out of the box" performance.

With a few tweaks, I am sure the eggy stars on the right edge of the image (this explains why the left image edge is remarkably good: at the right's expense) would be much tighter.

[TrevorW]

As said before remember the mount the camera the conditions match with the scope to take these images make a big difference as well

[Tom Davis (Tom)]

Great image Peter! I almost missed seeing this image -- glad I found it.

Tom

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

This object does not show reflections. I have only found them on two object, M83 and NGC4945. The stock focusor has been modded since my initial review and talks with GSO. So it should be much more stable. The baffle has also since been worked to prevent reflections too.

Paul, as a matter of interest, I get those reflections on those same two objects and, so far at least, no other - on my 8" GSORC. I have found the focuser tends to slump out of collimation as well. Can you tell me what was done with youyr focuser, and also, how you managed to get rid of those reflections. I'll flock if there is no other solution but if Andrews can arrange a swop-out of the baffle tube, so much the better.
Peter

[allan gould]

Peter
A lovely image and goes to show what someone that knows exactly what they are doing with imaging can produce. Irrespective of the equipment your ability shows through and its nice to know you are making them available.
Well done and Im waiting to see what the 10" can do in your hands.

[Hagar (Doug)]

Very nice image Peter, considering it's straight out of the box. These little scopes are really starting to shine as the poor mans imaging scope. I will be interested to see how the 10" performs. Might be worth investing in one myself.

[Paul Haese]

Peter, I changed the focusor to a feather touch. However, the new focusor has corrected most of the slump problems. The new baffle will not fit your 8" as they changed the f ratio to correct the baffle design. So use flocking to correct the baffle reflections issue.

[TrevorW]

I've got to ask here I purchased mine believing itto be an F/8 if it was not then it's been falsely advertised

If it is an f/8 then the new baffle should work fine.

?????