AP140 first light disappointment

[RickS]

No problems with the scope. It's lovely! However, my camera is on the fritz.

The attached is a quickie 3 x 15 minutes Ha. No flats and focused by holding the button util the stars looked smallish on the screen. The field includes several "space invaders." There's one at the bottom left of the crop. They go away when I warm the camera and reappear in different places when I cool it down again. My guess is that this is ice forming inside the sealed chamber. Time to check how well the lifetime warranty works...

Cheers,
Rick.

[gregbradley]

Love the wide field 6188. Yes unfortunately that looks like ice. You could try a warmer temperature in the meantime but yes a CCD chamber purge and regas looks needed. There probably is a temperature where the ice doesn't form. Perhaps -5 but for sure 2C.

Looks a lot like this image! (except this is a tad oversharpened on the ridge):

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/150480976/large

Greg.

[DavidTrap]

I can look after the 140 while you get the camera repaired Rick!

Seriously though, how have you found the "seeing" in Brisbane over the weekend?? I've been trying to collimate my RC scope and have been getting rather frustrated with poor images...

Do you still have your Tak collimating scope?

DT

[SimmoW]

Hey, that's my patented focusing method Rick! Nice field, but damn that ice. If its not one thing, it's the other eh. Good luck and wishing for a fast turnaround!

[RickS]

Thanks, Greg. I could play around with warmer temps but I'm going to be away a for a large chunk of winter so I think I'll bite the bullet and see if I can get the camera fixed ASAP. I'll still have data from SRO and New Mexico to process ;)

That field does look quite similar :)



Very kind of you, David, but I think the Mach 1 would struggle. How's the big mount going?

I was imaging at 2.4 arcsec/pixel, roughly focused and guiding with a 50mm Borg guide scope, so the seeing could have been 10 arc second and I probably wouldn't have noticed.

I do still have the Tak collimating scope. You're welcome to borrow it if you like.



Thanks, Simon. Last time the camera went back it took ages but that was for a new sensor. Hopefully, they can fix it quickly this time.

Cheers,
Rick.

[strongmanmike]

That's how I always do it..works every time for me, I have become the human V-Curve :D

Good start Rick, despite the gremlins on the CCD :thumbsup:

Mike

[RickS]

Thanks, Mike. I like to have the focus automated but first I need to figure out why the Robofocus app has stopped working on my astro laptop.

Cheers,
Rick.

[jase]

Looking good Rick. Impressive FoV with this set up. Bummer about the camera though. Make sure you argue the point with Andor support that when you purchased the camera that it came with life time chamber warranty. Note that Andor no longer offer this, to quote the web site "All Alta systems are backed by a 2 year warranty on the camera and a 3 year warranty on the CCD chamber integrity." Repairs are done out of Ireland these days.

I have a spare Alta F16M-D9 body at SSO if you get stuck without a camera for a long period of time. Happy to loan it to you. Note that the deep cooling body has a different optical backfocus to the regular D7. 34.6mm versus 25.6mm for D7 body. This may or may not work with your set up depending on backfocus requirements of the optical train. PM or email if interested.

[RickS]

Thanks very much, Jase, for both the comments and the loan offer. Mine is a D09 body also, so the backfocus should be the same. Will let you know if the repair takes a long time...

Cheers,
Rick.

[DavidTrap]

Ya reckon - the Mach 1 punches above it's weight!

Some success with the old paramount. Unfortunately Bisque have become non-responsive on requests for advice, even when I tell them I have money in the bank to spend on a new computer if required???? I bought a dovetail saddle for the mount from AP recently and Darleen was an absolute pleasure to deal with. I'd be very reluctant to deal with Bisque for a new mount in the future...

I'll try collimating the scope again tonight, but if it proves unsuccessful, I'll get in touch with you about the Tak.

Ta
DT

[Slawomir]

Great to hear you are happy with the telescope Rick. Sorry about the camera though. Hopefully it will get serviced quickly.

[RickS]

Thanks, Slawomir. I hope to report fantastic warranty service in the near future :D

[DavidTrap]

Rick - I can probably hold off on the Tak collimating scope. I re-read the guide to collimating my scope and when I followed the procedure correctly tonight, I was rewarded with a much better result. CCD inspector has given it's tick of approval. I might borrow it down the track and see if it confirms what I've done tonight.

Still happy to baby sit the 140 regardless...

DT