Jewelbox - GSO Truss Newt first light

[DaveNZ]

First light test with my new 12" GSO truss newt.

A quicky 1.5hrs of LRGB using teleskop-express GPU coma corrector on QSI683. And also first time with SGP. Auto focus run with the Moonlte focuser worked and also it fired up PHD2 and automatically and found a guide star.

Stars are nice and round pretty much to the edges so I'm rather impressed with the scope so far. It's quite a bit of telescope for the price.

[Octane]

Congratulations, that is stunning.

What a beautiful cluster!

H

[Slawomir]

One of the best images of this cluster I have ever seen. Well done (to the telescope) ;) :thumbsup:

[Atmos]

Wonderful results Dave! Particularly like the wide view, puts it into context with the myriads of redder stars dotted around the field.

[DaveNZ]

Thanks Guys.

I was rather pleased with my first effort. The seeing was rather good for Dunedin.

[SimmoW]

Lovely first work! Yes I too like the wider view, puts it all into context.

[vlazg]

Wow Dave, looks brilliant, congratulations on the first light, great result.
I agree with the others, the wider view is better. :thumbsup:

[RickS]

That's one of the better images I have seen of the Jewel Box. Well done!

[mountainjoo]

Really like this Dave. Looking forward to seeing more images from you with this scope.

[Paul Haese]

That looks good Dave, I am yet to take an image with my Newt, though commissioning has started. I hope the MPCC is as good at correcting as the GPU is on your scope. Any chance of seeing a bigger image?

BTW, I like the colour, reasonably balanced, though maybe just a tad too blue magenta in the back ground. This looks like an interesting couple of months for both of us.

[DaveNZ]

Yes, definitely too blue/magenta, I was a bit quick of the block when posting.
You will find that the GPU will produce smaller/tighter stars than the Baader.
I have both and dont use the MPCC any longer.

Here is the full res:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ba7xixl86jldc0e/20170730-jewelBox.jpg?dl=0

[DaveNZ]

Full res this time:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/do67p126zifpmis/20170730-jewelBox-5.jpg?dl=0

[el_draco]

This is my ABSOLUTE favourite open cluster and this is one of the BEST shots I've seen of it... Exquisite!!!

[Paul Haese]

Oooh that is exciting. This is really hoping my scope is as good as the one you have. I am sure it is, but those stars are tight and round to the edge of the field. I am sitting and waiting at home right now for the cloud to clear at Clayton and just salivating on this high res image. They look almost like refractor stars. :thumbsup:

[DaveNZ]

I must admit I was very surprised at the quality of the image especially at the edges. Compared to my last GSO, the 10" f4, this seems to be in another league. Whether I just struck it lucky remains to be seen. Im sure the conical mirror helps. No micky mouse GSO mirror cell to worry about.

The other bonus is that telescope held focus for over two hours and collimation was still good after a meridian flip. There maybe benefit from strengthening the the top section of the scope when using heavy imaging trains. I already have purchased carbon fibre tubes and end connectors from Dragonplate.com in the States. However I will wait a while before I do any surgery based on what I have seen so far.

[Paul Haese]

Over the years Jim has been producing better and better mirrors and the truss built scopes are really the apex of all the development. I got to the point with the RC of not refocusing until there was a 2 degree shift in temperature. The truss on the RC seemed very stable and held collimation well.

Like you I have been working on alternative ideas on how to keep the secondary from moving. I am pleased to see your system which identical to mine holds well.

[gregbradley]

That's a lovely image and I agree with many of the posters that is one of the best images of this difficult target.

Looking at the full rez though, there is something odd in the bottom left corner - a dark corner. That maybe just a sub that was rotated. Also looking at the image it gives the appearance of bowing out in the centre, curvature.
Something to consider when evaluating the coma corrector's performance rather as well as roundness of stars in the corners. Which gives the flatter field. That is something the FSQ is so good at, such a flat field. At first it almost seems odd as we get used to curvature.

I am only being so picky as you are evaluating your gear as it does not detract from the fabulous image.

Greg.

[DaveNZ]

Thanks for your thoughts Greg. I will take a closer look at some of the fits subs to see whats going on.

With fast newtonians we are rather limited with the choice of coma correctors.

[gregbradley]

Its a minor nitpick it was more an impression I got looking at the image. A bit like when lens corrections get applied in Lightroom to a digital camera photo.
What you could do is use the lens correction tool in PShop and see if you can change that.

Greg.

[rcheshire]

+1 - very nice

[PRejto]

Wow. What an impressive photo! Amazingly tight stars. Lucky you. Great scope and nicely processed too.

I'm curious about your impression of seeing. Must have been pretty good. What range is your FWHM for the subs?

Peter

[atalas]

Agree...a great shot !

[strongmanmike]

Very nice first light Dave :thumbsup:...looking forward to my upcoming first light too, hope it looks as good as this one :D

[gaseous]

Geez, that'll do me. Super photo!

[DaveNZ]

I just ran the fits Lum. subs through CCDInspector. FWHM ranges from 1.89 to 2.04. Telescope was at 66 down to 64 degree altitude. Subs were 2 minutes.

Im normally around FWHM 3

When processing Pixinsight masked stretch helps.

[topheart]

Very nice first light!
Cheers,
Tim