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Old 16-09-2007, 12:11 AM
你B
Its only a column of dust

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10" dob first night out!

Picked up the 10" F/5 dob today from David aka Dave47Tuc (cheers mate!) She's got a fully flocked tube, flocked dewshield and a 10:1 crayford focuser so I am stoked Physically, it makes my 4.5" reflector look tiny! No seriously, this thing is actually big!

The scope had to endure a 40km car ride home so collimation was probably slightly out. But, because the light was fading, I couldnt really check it but at a glance it seemed close. Later on, after I finished for the night, I checked collimation again in a lit room (still not ideal conditions) and it was actually slighlty off. Come next clear night, the collimating tools that came with the scope will get me up n running in seconds no more film canister guesswork for me!

After a 30 min cooling period (not enough!) I couldn't hold it in an longer so I aimed at Jupiter. At 83x, the view was pleasingly sharp and bright. Despite horrible seeing, I could detect 4 bands. I upped the mag to 138x and now I could see detail in the NEB, the SEB rift was a mile wide and the GRS really showed its colour. Pumping the power further to 277x caused image breakdown, as the seeing was poor and Jupiter itself isn't tolerant of high magnification. Putting jupiter slightly out of focus one could SEE the air rushing past.

As the seeing was poor, I decided to begin DSO observing. I got out my eyepiece collection and used the scope's dustcap as an accessory tray. I started off with the Trifid Nebula (M20). Sure enough, at 83x the dark lanes were evident, even in my light polluted suburban backyard. My best view of the Trifid was at 104x with a Narrowband filter. The dark lanes were plainly visible and the reflection nebula just north of the Trifid barely so (maybe due to the filter). Looks like the flocking was doing its job
Sketch of the trifid:


I then looked at the Dumbell (M27) using 104x and the filter and wow it was big! I could trace nebulosity beyond the "apple core". Excellent!
On object that always wins my curiosity is the Saturn Nebula. At 166x, it appeared as a bright greenish oval. The green colour was rather strong. Increasing power to 227x, I thought I could see the filaments which give it its name but couldn't be certain. Seeing was pretty poor so will have to try it another time.

Lastly, I decided to check out 47 Tuc and the Tarantula Nebula. Freakin WOW! 47 Tuc, even though it was *far* from being overhead, was resolved into a maelstrom of diamonds right down to the core at only 104x. Increasing power to 166x increased the wow factor, as the field was overflowing with glistening pinpricks! The Tarantula Nebula, was also spectacular. At 166x with the narrowband filter, its filaments and complex structure were evident, as was billowing swaths of fainter nebulosity surrounding it. Definately brighter and more resolved than a view I had with an 8" Starfinder I borrowed a couple of years back. Reducing the power to just 39x, with the filter, several knots can be seen littered across the FOV. Just Brilliant. I can see I'll have fun in the LMC with this baby!
UNfortunately at this point, high-level cirrus started moving in so I decided to pack it up.
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  #2  
Old 16-09-2007, 09:20 AM
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Starkler (Geoff)
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Good report and Im sure Dave will be pleased to know you got a wow from his old scope
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Old 16-09-2007, 10:44 AM
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seeker372011 (Narayan)
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great report-and good you escaped the new scope curse..maybe it only applies if you unpack the box yourself
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Old 16-09-2007, 11:04 AM
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Dave47tuc (David)
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Well done Sab

There is no one I'm more happy to sell the scope to. You are a very keen and good observer. I know the scope will be well looked after and your skill as an observer and sketcher will be well rewarded.
Great first light report and I hope you have many nights enjoyment under the stars.
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Old 17-09-2007, 08:32 AM
你B
Its only a column of dust

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It's a great scope Dave, couldn't be more pleased And now it's cloudy with constant rain since last night. Yes it was bound to happen...

I've tinkered with the collimation in the comfort of daylight and it looks good, it nicely matches all those collimation how-to diagrams. Collimation of both the primary and secondary is a breeze with those Bobs Nobs, infinitely easier than on my 4.5" scope. Can't wait to look at Jupiter this time! Earliest chance will be Tuesday night, that's ages away lol
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Old 17-09-2007, 10:49 AM
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davidpretorius
lots of eyes on you!

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i concur, great obs report.

must try saturn neb, that is a new one for me

well done
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Old 17-09-2007, 11:48 AM
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NQLD_Newby
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Congrats on the new sope SAB.

As usual your report is a great read. Well done.

Can't wait to hear your Jupiter report when you get to have a look in this scope. They were great with the 4.5" so will be very interesting to hear what you can see now.

Once again congrats, and keep up the great work.
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