Tiny Mars

[rumples riot]

Well it is getting very small now. Even with the 2.5x it is just a pea. I need to get a 2x extension. Will that make it the same size as the 5x? Bird can you answer this question.

Anyway, I have the new scope with bobs knobs installed and of course collimated. I even checked afterwards and the collimation seems to be holding.

Seeing was around 5/10 and with the heat still being present, I only used the cooler for 5 minutes to get it to ambient.

Anyway here you go. Hope you like.

Paul

[ballaratdragons]

Paul, that is a superb shot for a Planet that is rocketing further away from us every night. Nice & clear!

I tried again tonight and all I can see is a swimming mess!

[Exfso]

Paul that is very very nice mate. Looks as though you made the right decision.

[rochler]

That's an incredibly clear shot! I'm gonna have to get some tutoring from you I think hehe... :P

[johnno]

A terrific shot Paul,
I had a look at it late last night through the ED80,and got the same as Ken,
A great swimming mess,
The Moon was Good though.

Merry Xmas,All
John

[bird]

G'day Paul, nice Mars image. Check out this page:

http://www.televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=42

hope that helps, there's a graph near the bottom that might answer your question.

regards, Bird

[h0ughy]

Very Nice Image Paul!! fantastic how you manage to get the best out of nearly everything! How is the new setup?

[davidpretorius]

nice capture rumps,

it is sooooooo little!

[Robert_T]

Hi Rumples - very nice. Love the colour.

My C9.25 seems to hold collimation well too. Had some good seeing here last night and will post later.

cheers,

[ving]

best looking pea i have seen for ages :P

on ya mate :)

[rumples riot]

Thank you guys for the comments.

Peter only time will tell whether it was a good decision to change. But at this stage it does a pretty good job in average seeing. Collimation will have to be worked on a lot to get it where I like it.

Rochler I am more than happy to help, whatever information I can give you and tutoring. We should make some time over the break to get together for an imaging session. I am sure Peter would be in on that.

Bird, judging the angle on that graph, using an extension on the 2.5 will actually make the image smaller. It seems like an extension will not work for it. Am I reading this right? I have even noted that putting the powermate before a diag has the same effect. Maybe if I put the diag in first?? What do you think? I know Chris Go uses both an extension and a diag to get his image scale. Do I need to buy a 4x powermate?

Houghy the new setup works really well, guiding is good, very little error in PE. But will need to do this over the break. Something that I really hate doing. In regard to getting the most out of my setup, I think I can do a lot more yet. Need to learn way more than I know now. A lot of the mathematics is lost on me. Just too lazy to go back and learn. I wll need to though, so that I can make an informed decision for my next camera.

Anyway thanks all. Saturn is next on the agenda and I want to iron out the bugs before I start in vain. I want to make a quantum leap with my imaging in this next year.


Paul

[RB]

Stunning image mate.

:thumbsup:

[bird]

Paul, judging from the graph I think only the 5x powermate really increases with the use of an extension tube. The others seem to stay the same power or even lose power.

regards, Bird

[rumples riot]

Anthony, yeah looks that way. The 5x is just too much magnification. With the 5x in I get 1958x; Mars is slightly larger than a 50 cent piece. The image gets really dull and I have to use 50% gain. Which produces heaps of grain and even with 500- 1000 frames stacked the result is a very poor image. Jupiter with the 5x is the size of a large grapefruit. With that much grain it is also very hard to focus. At least with the 2.5x the mag is only 978x. Bit of a problem. Might need to speak more to Chris Go about how he combats the problem. Long focal lengths are good, but there are limits.

Paul

[Dennis]

That is an excellent image Rumples. Great detail and processing. Looks very natural and pleasing.

Cheers

Dennis

[asimov]

Nice shot Paul.

[Robert_T]

:doh: doh... no wonder I'm not getting anywhere with extension tubes on the 2.5X powermate, now I see this I remember seeing it before so feel doubly dopey!

If Tele-vue put out a 1.25 in 3.5x powermate I reckon SCT owners would come in droves... anyone know Al to suggest it to him? :confuse3:

[rumples riot]

Robert if you look at the graph, the 2.5 is only 2.5 at 0mm from the top glass. There is 40mm between the glass and the top of the compression ring. Then add 15mm for the CCD distance.

Yeah, I agree a 3.5 or 3x powermate would be perfect. It would give nice image scale. I suspect a lot of guys in the States are dooing resampling to achieve the image scale they get. Must write a little email to Al.