M83 test of new mount

[allan gould]

Thought I would give my new EQ6 mount a trial to see how it behaved in the field. Set it up with Alignmaster and nailed alignment straight off in 5 min. Then put my old Celestron 8"SCT on with an f6.3 converter and imaged M83 just past the zenith. I'm continually amazed how this old scope with no coatings and a very basic scope performs for me. Nice imaging scale, no vignetting and round stars to the edge. Who needs a new Celestron SCT? Using guidemaster for pulseguiding using EQMOD the mount slewed and guided as well asI could hope.
Happy with the focus using a Bahtinov mask and my new light box to make flats which removed some dust bunnies that wanted a look through the scope while I was imaging. I'm happy that its all coming together for some serious photography. The attached image was 50x1min with a DSI II Pro, stacked and dark/flat removal with DSS. Had to stop imaging as I forgot to put the dew heaters on and I just fogged up quite quickly.
Comments welcome.

[lacad01]

Not too shabby a result at all :thumbsup:

[renormalised]

Good result, Allan. The ol' scope is going guns there:D

[Octane]

Allan,

Wow, you're not wrong. That's a great result for such short exposures.

Look at all that intricate detail in the arms, and star forming regions.

I must get an SCT again!

Regards,
Humayun

[AlexN]

Very nice Allan... Glad to see the EQ6 is getting put to use in its new home!

I'm glad to report that the HEQ5 worked brilliantly for me... 1 minute unguided exposures were a breeze.. :)

Cheers mate..

Ps. are you ever going to get that QHY8 out of the box!!? :)

[allan gould]

Glad we are both happy. Treat my baby gently as she was good to me.
QHY8 will get a pounding asap, when time lets me. I may have a go soon with short subs from central brisvegas just to trial it out and lt it know its got to collect some photons.
Thanks for the kind comments guys. Want to do longer subs and see how deep I can push a DSI II, would like to get it to a really dark site and then combine QHY and DSI shots with Registar. Just neeeeeed a dark site.:help:

[Lester]

Very nice image Allan. Showing a lot of detail.

[Tamtarn]

Really great to hear that your new set up is performing well Allan.
This image has a good amount of detail and looks real good for short subs.

I don't think you are alone regarding forgetting to turn on the dew heaters. :whistle:

A check list on a white board is starting to sound good to me. :)

David