First Light & First Galaxy - M83 GSO RC8 + Moonlite Focuser

Andy01 (Andy) · #1 24-03-2018, 12:00 PM

M83 with from Snake Valley last weekend.

My first real crack at a galaxy with the RC8 with the fancy new motorised Moonlite focuser that finally arrived last week.

I originally ordered the focuser in January, and it was sent it to my studio but mis-addressed to the wrong suite.
After 3 weeks of attempting to deliver it to a non-existing suite in my building USPS sent it back to the USA!
Ron then received it & resent it, to my home address in, wait for it - AUSTRIA!

Another lap or two around the world later, commonsense finally ruled at USPS and it arrived safely in Melbourne

Nice piece of engineering, I'm impressed

Still some known collimation issues to sort, and I've attempted to address the resulting star issues with Startools repair function (gasp! yes, I know - apologies to all the purists).

Overall though, I'm reasonably happy with the result.

Looks kinda softish though, I suspect that's down to local seeing conditions and maybe the collimation defects? Anyway, lots to learn from this.

2.5 hrs Lum & 90mins ea of R,G & B (+4hrs Ha from Home.)

Galaxies are so cool and so pretty - this one is 15 million light years away!

C&C welcome - be kind

atalas · #2 24-03-2018, 01:45 PM

I would expect a better resolved detail from the RC8 Andy, but, a good effort and I'm sure you'll sort the issues out before too long!

Geoff45 (Geoff) · #3 24-03-2018, 11:23 PM

Looks good Andy. Great colour and reso.

SimmoW (SIMON) · #4 25-03-2018, 07:49 AM

Thats a great early result Andy. Yes it's soft, but that's most likely due to guiding,wind, seeing? At those focal lengths, it seems like quantum physics takes over! What were the exposure lengths ?

And thanks for being clear that you used the Star Tools repair function. Now kiddies, you can see why it should never, ever be used😂😂

multiweb (Marc) · #5 25-03-2018, 08:53 AM

Nice colors.

Atmos (Colin) · #6 25-03-2018, 08:59 AM

It still looks quite pleasing Andy. It is soft, looks like it is suffering from too much noise reduction but if the collimation is still off that will definitely soften the image.

Peter Ward · #7 25-03-2018, 09:55 AM

I’d concur with the “soft” comments....which may well be the nature of the instrument.

How does it star test? (Does the focus snap? do the intra and extra focal doughnuts look identical?) If all tests well, then seeing may simply be the culprit.

That said, colours are good and tracking is spot on. One to be happy with for sure

gregbradley · #8 25-03-2018, 10:22 AM

You're off to a good start.

The first thing you'll notice with longer focal length scopes and especially with your unforgiving small pixels is how much it will be the effect of the seeing.

Still a lot right and its a matter of collimation, accurate focus and a few nights of decent seeing.

Greg.

Andy01 (Andy) · #9 25-03-2018, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atalas

I would expect a better resolved detail from the RC8 Andy, but, a good effort and I'm sure you'll sort the issues out before too long!

Cheers Atalas, hopefully I can get it properly sorted soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff45

Looks good Andy. Great colour and reso.

Thenks Geoff

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimmoW

Thats a great early result Andy. Yes it's soft, but that's most likely due to guiding,wind, seeing? At those focal lengths, it seems like quantum physics takes over! What were the exposure lengths ?

And thanks for being clear that you used the Star Tools repair function. Now kiddies, you can see why it should never, ever be used😂😂

Lol, cheers Simmo - sometimes though for me- it's the difference between putting up an image or not. Rather than post a warts 'n all version, I attempted to process my way out of the hole.... although the hole was rather deep!

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Nice colors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atmos

It still looks quite pleasing Andy. It is soft, looks like it is suffering from too much noise reduction but if the collimation is still off that will definitely soften the image.

Not NR Colin, I used every trick in the book to sharpen, high pass, tonal contrast etc but you can't polish a ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

I’d concur with the “soft” comments....which may well be the nature of the instrument.

How does it star test? (Does the focus snap? do the intra and extra focal doughnuts look identical?) If all tests well, then seeing may simply be the culprit.

That said, colours are good and tracking is spot on. One to be happy with for sure

Cheers Peter, I have a date to sort it out with a buddy who has a Tak microscope & CCD inspector next clear full moon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

You're off to a good start.

The first thing you'll notice with longer focal length scopes and especially with your unforgiving small pixels is how much it will be the effect of the seeing.

Still a lot right and its a matter of collimation, accurate focus and a few nights of decent seeing.

Greg.

All duly noted, cheers Greg!

RickS (Rick) · #10 25-03-2018, 03:26 PM

An excellent first crack, Andy

One additional comment: you've got a colour cast in the background.

Cheers,
Rick.

willik (Willik) · #11 25-03-2018, 03:28 PM

Very nice image accept it looks a bit soft and the detail on the spiral arms
of the galaxy are lost there is always a next time you Just keep on learning
by feedback.
Martin.

Andy01 (Andy) · #12 26-03-2018, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickS

An excellent first crack, Andy

One additional comment: you've got a colour cast in the background.

Cheers,
Rick.

Thanks Rick, duly noted, I've attempted to compensate for this and taken onboard other comments above - adjusted version HERE

Quote:

Originally Posted by willik

Very nice image accept it looks a bit soft and the detail on the spiral arms
of the galaxy are lost there is always a next time you Just keep on learning
by feedback.
Martin.

Agreed - cheers Martin, I'll keep on trying!