Imaging with 12" SCT

[leon]

Hi All, just out of interest.
I plan to put the 12 inch on a wedge this weekend, and hopefully do some imaging through it in the near future.
Yes, hopefully, i already use the ED80 with reasonable success, but there is more to learn.
To all those experienced imagers out there, what would you do ???

Stick with the ED80 and master it, or try my hand at the 12 inch as well.

This is just a thought that i have, maybe i'm wasting my time, and should stick with widefields and the ED.

Cheers Leon

[rogerg]

I'd definitely give the 12" a serious crack.

I find that I swing between the two, my megrez 80 and 12" lx200. I'll go for a month or two keenly using one setup and then suddenly feel like using the other for a while. We're lucky to have the variety, but it is a curse - you never get as much done on one setup as you want to.

(and yes.. I've tried and occasionally do run both at the same time, but that makes for a very hectic night, usually with lower quality results).

Roger.

[rogerg]

oh... and for the LX you'll probably find yourself wanting a focal reducer... depends what you'll use on it I guess.

Roger.

[leon]

Hi Roger, the focal reducer and all the good bits came with the scope when i bought it some months ago.

It is ready to image, the question is when, and Roger, i know what you mean i sometimes try to cover to much in one night, and it usually turns out that you get less done.

I keep telling myself, keep it simple...keep it simple.

Cheers Leon

[gbeal]

Leon, I'm stuck between suggesting keep it real simple and master the 80mm first, and thinking well if you have a nice LX12", why not.
Really you have to try it, and I too run between two scopes, one a 4", the other a 10". Differing FOV's is normally the reason/justification.
Only one way to find out if you are ready to image with the big'un though.

[leon]

Yes i agree and i will give it a shot, nothing to lose really, but my sanity.

Cheers Leon

[Doug]

Leon, have fun first, you shouldn't have too much trouble with the 5D on a 12" f10.
My only advice would be to pay attention to balance especially with a wedge mounted Meade, and take plenty of sub frames. 60 x 60 seconds will give a better result that 1x360". Why? nothing to do with noise, dark current etc. The stellar images will probably average out to look more round than with longer exposures.(with a Meade wedge mounted fork that is)
Trouble is the memory overhead.

Cheers,
Doug

[jase]

Hi Leon,
I'd wait to see how steady the skies are. If they appear steady and will allow you to use the longer focal on the 12", go for it. You might be restricted to the 80mm on the night. No point wasting your precious imaging time on the 12" if you cant reach the pixel/arcsec you desire.

[Ric]

Hi Leon, definitely have a go with the 12". The focal reducer is a must though to speed things up, what type of FR do you have.

cheers

[leon]

6.3 Ric, it came with the scope when i bought it, yea i will give it a shot

Cheers leon

[Ric]

Thats the beauty of this hobby, testing and trying new combinations and seeing what comes of it.
Sometimes you'll get a ripper and other times you get a recycle :lol: , but it's all good fun.

cheers

[Striker]

I would be interested to see how the FR goes leon.

Like I have mentioned to you via PM.

I doubt the results will be pleasing using a Meade 6.3 FR with the 5D on a SCT.

You will need a much larger focal reducuer to reduce vignetting.