Pimp my RC8 and collimate with OCAL

[Leo.G (Leo)]

That's looking good Mike!

[mldee (Mike)]

Thanks Leo, progress is slow but sure, mainly due to daytime heat in the obs and laziness due to evening clouds discouraging future star testing.

Looks like storm clouds again tonight, but decided to post the status quo anyway.

Put the whole imaging train together a few days ago, only thing missing is the astro camera, but that's where the OCAL goes. The setup is still horizontal on the bench. Addition of the ZWO filter wheel seemed to introduce some mis-collimation, as shown in the second pic below, but a few minutes fiddling with the tilt adaptor got rid of most of that and I was satisfied that the system was close enough to warrant a star test, and that's where it sits. I suspect the larger white areas around the OCAL sensor in the pics is reflection from the filters and I didn't bother with it.

Mounting the setup on the AM5 pier also will give me the opportunity to evaluate any collimation shift with varying OTA elevation, which is the major objective of the JB adaptor.

News at 11.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Skies haven't been playing nice in my area either.

[mldee (Mike)]

Between guests using the computer/bedroom during the only period of clear night skies and subsequent arrival of the wet/holiday season, the ready-to-be-star-tested RC8 with JB adaptor still sits forlornly on the obs bench.

Weather forecasts suggest it looks like it will be a "next year" project

[Leo.G (Leo)]

I'll be looking forward to hearing how it goes. I must contact Joshua soon, I want the adapter but I've just been short on cash this time of year, my son takes priority.