AstroPhysics Riccardi Honders Astrograph 305mm F3.8 arrives!

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by issdaol

Awesome scope Greg. I have been a big fan of the work you have produced with your prior scopes. I can't wait to see what you achieve with this baby.

Thanks Phil! Yes I hope I can live up to the scope's ability.

Greg.

[Tony_ (Tony)]

Beautiful looking equipment - the quality is obvious in these photos. Looking forward to your images Greg (which are already great).

Tony.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Tony.

I was planning on doing something this weekend but the forecast is rain. Perhaps next weekend.

Greg.

Originally Posted by Tony_

Beautiful looking equipment - the quality is obvious in these photos. Looking forward to your images Greg (which are already great).

Tony.

[gregbradley]

I received the FLI Atlas focuser for this scope. Now for some adapter calculations and an order off to Precise Parts.

In the meantime I can slum it with Robofocus and an AP bracket for the Robofocus

Greg.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Awesome! Just out of curiosity, what's the OTA weigh?

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by cometcatcher

Awesome! Just out of curiosity, what's the OTA weigh?

Its pretty heavy. About 28kgs. Still manhandleable but I think you need to be careful. It comes with some lifting straps to get it out of the case which are handy. There are a series of photos done by Roland showing how to mount the scope into the rings on a mount. That helps.

I guess some of the weight comes from the need to have everything strong and rigid and no flex. Like a Tak. My AP refractor was also very solid and semi heavy but in a good way (quite handleable).

Put it this way, its the only scope where I am totally confident there is no chance of focuser flex as the drawtube is thick stainless steel. Not aluminium but stainless steel. It not only looks good its extremely strong.
I'm surprised more high end scopes don't use that.

Greg.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Thanks. Probably an easy one to lift for Mike! Not so much for me lol. Not that I'm thinking of getting one. Just curious.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by cometcatcher

Thanks. Probably an easy one to lift for Mike! Not so much for me lol. Not that I'm thinking of getting one. Just curious.

Yeah Mike probably would only use one hand! Its not a lightweight instrument but manhandleable with some care.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

I am hoping to do a first light this week. Forecast looks hopeful for late in the week at my dark site - woohoo! Now if only the replacement chain link for my filter wheel would arrive before then!

Greg.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

I am hoping to do a first light this week. Forecast looks hopeful for late in the week at my dark site - woohoo! Now if only the replacement chain link for my filter wheel would arrive before then!

Greg.

Fingers crossed Greg! must be exciting ... of course its been pretty bad in Melbourne for about a week before new moon and will be for(atleast) another...

Looking forward to seeing first light all you need to do is narrow down on which target you want

[gregbradley]

Thanks Russell. This next week is ideal moonwise for imaging so I plan on an LRGB image or perhaps an LRGB with some Ha.

Probably a galaxy as well to see how it goes on that. It all depends on how many nights. Usually my dark site can be clear when Sydney is cloudy and rainy but not necessarily at the moment.

Any suggestions for targets? Proline 16803 and RHA is about 1.7 arc minutes x 1.7. So Rho Ophiuchi as a mosaic may work.
M17, Omega Centauri (quick image of a few hours) maybe another Eta C (I'm a bit Eta C'ed out though). Last ditch Orion before it sets.
Vela SNR is still up. Herschels Ray could be nice NGC 2736 especially with the Trius with its high QE in Ha and O111. CG4 could be interesting although perhaps a bit of a vague target for first light.

Galaxies NGC3521, 3621, 2997 are in good positions. Leo triplet of galaxies, Sombrero Galaxy, Antenna Galaxies, Centaurus A (then I'd never hear the end of it from Mike if it didn't show the extended halo - so that's a risky one to do!).. The Queen of Galaxies NGC6744 is rising now and is a viable target although quite dim and really needs massive exposure so risky with dodgy weather forecast.

The Running Chicken Nebula is well positioned. The Blue Horsehead IC 4592 is a possible. Its near Rho Ophiuchi. NGC3576 is in a good position.

NGC6188 is rising and could be a target for the 2nd half of the night.

Any suggestions?

Greg.

[clive milne]

Originally Posted by rustigsmed

all you need to do is narrow down on which target you want

Please God,
let it be something more original than the 56,784th rendering of eta Carina.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by clive milne

Please God,
let it be something more original than the 56,784th rendering of eta Carina.

Don't worry Clive I am Eta C'd out.

Greg.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by clive milne

Please God,
let it be something more original than the 56,784th rendering of eta Carina.

WHAT? And not stick with the program? Heresy!!

[clive milne]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Don't worry Clive I am Eta C'd out.

Greg.

Well... you know where I am coming from,
I envy you and look forward to what you come up with.

best
c

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Thanks Russell. This next week is ideal moonwise for imaging so I plan on an LRGB image or perhaps an LRGB with some Ha.

Probably a galaxy as well to see how it goes on that. It all depends on how many nights. Usually my dark site can be clear when Sydney is cloudy and rainy but not necessarily at the moment.

Any suggestions for targets? Proline 16803 and RHA is about 1.7 arc minutes x 1.7. So Rho Ophiuchi as a mosaic may work.
M17, Omega Centauri (quick image of a few hours) maybe another Eta C (I'm a bit Eta C'ed out though). Last ditch Orion before it sets.
Vela SNR is still up. Herschels Ray could be nice NGC 2736 especially with the Trius with its high QE in Ha and O111. CG4 could be interesting although perhaps a bit of a vague target for first light.

Galaxies NGC3521, 3621, 2997 are in good positions. Leo triplet of galaxies, Sombrero Galaxy, Antenna Galaxies, Centaurus A (then I'd never hear the end of it from Mike if it didn't show the extended halo - so that's a risky one to do!).. The Queen of Galaxies NGC6744 is rising now and is a viable target although quite dim and really needs massive exposure so risky with dodgy weather forecast.

The Running Chicken Nebula is well positioned. The Blue Horsehead IC 4592 is a possible. Its near Rho Ophiuchi. NGC3576 is in a good position.

NGC6188 is rising and could be a target for the 2nd half of the night.

Any suggestions?

Greg.

That's quite a list already Greg...don't think you need any help at all

You are right about one thing though, you will never be able to match the Olsen-Sidonio Centaurus A Extreme Deep Field...no waaay Jose'! with a limiting mag around 25 thaaaat will sit at the top for ever, never to be beaten, uh uh, so why bother .....so in other words, there ya go, take up the challenge Bradley, make that $ outlay count

Mike

[Peter Ward]

So....Greg....now we really need to talk about this Sydney weather.....

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

So....Greg....now we really need to talk about this Sydney weather.....

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

That's quite a list already Greg...don't think you need any help at all

You are right about one thing though, you will never be able to match the Olsen-Sidonio Centaurus A Extreme Deep Field...no waaay Jose'! with a limiting mag around 25 thaaaat will sit at the top for ever, never to be beaten, uh uh, so why bother .....so in other words, there ya go, take up the challenge Bradley, make that $ outlay count

Mike

Hehehehe, hmmm, Cent A may've just shot to the top of the list! Although looking at your collaborative image again its really an exquisite image and likely to be a benchmark for a long time - like the 15 minute barrier in the Men's 1500mm freestyle lasted.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

So....Greg....now we really need to talk about this Sydney weather.....

Yes, I feel a bit guilty about that. (not)

Greg.

[SpaceNoob (Chris)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Yes, I feel a bit guilty about that. (not)

Greg.

Looks like you've got a big Low pressure system down south with your name on it heading north to Vic lol....