First Light with the Televue 127

[dcalleja]

Hi all,
I finally got out to do a trial run with the new Televue 127is and G11. The G11 is a great step forward for me. Very smooth mechanically and easy to polar align. Nice smooth sine wave PE (+- 9 before PEC) to guide out. The Gemini system is a bit esoteric but I think I have mastered most of it.

Its also much easier to setup and tear down. I miss the Moonlite focuser with stepper on the LX200 but the 1:10 rack and pinion isn't too bad

After much jigging around I got some subs of Omega to test it out. Some egginess evident but I am a very happy camper so far

Larger res image on www.dancalleja.com (http://www.dancalleja.com)

Dan

[jase]

Sweet look'n set up Dan! Congrats on the scope and the first light image too. Data looks a touch soft, perhaps out of focus? Are you going to get a stepper for the R&P and run FocusMax with this rig? It will take the guess work out of hitting focus and save you precious data acquisition time. Looking forward to more images from this set up. The Petzval design is a photon killer. Very capable imaging set up.

[Larryp]

Nice rig, Dan. I'm jealous!

[strongmanmike]

Man, I agree, very capable setup there Dan :thumbsup:

Not the finest image of Omega I guess but as a first test run it's quite a good result and I am sure your next crack at it will be better. I can feel your excitement in anticipation of the next clear night :party: - good luck :thumbsup:

Mike

[dcalleja]

Thanks guys. I think the focus was a bit on the soft side. And yes quite excited by the new kit

Jase - any suggestions on a stepper for this?

[Ross G]

Good luck with the new telescope Dan.

I have just started imaging with the smaller Televue NP101 and if the improved results I have gotten are anything to go by, you are in for some amazing images.

Looking forward to them.

Ross.

[dcalleja]

Ross
Good to hear. I find the R&P focused a bit stiff on mine and I'm keen to get a stepper keep focus throughout an imaging session. So happy to take any recommendations

Dan

[jase]

Dan,
I'm under the impression Televue have their own motorised focus solution known as Focusmaster?? It maybe worth going with the OEM version. In any case I would avoid putting a focuser in the optical path unless you have to. While there is likely to be ample back focus to support this, with most refractors you want to be operating as close to the native focal ratio as possible. Petzval design may also have problems with inward focus due to the rear optical element group. I would suggest investigating the TV Focusmaster solution or go with a RoboFocus kit. Both do not alter the native optical path.

[dcalleja]

Thanks Jase
Some research shows that robofocus may be the way to go as the televue option is DC based ie: not a discrete stepper motor. So I think I may look at that route

Dan

[Elio]

Congrats on the new scope and first light, not the best I seen, but promising ;)

With my ex Tec140Ed and dslr never used an electronic focuser, with 1:10 by hand & bathinov mask :)