FS60CB Imaging First Light.

[Tandum]

I've had this FS60 for over 8 months and have been trying to connect the QHY9 to it since I got it but it's really been my primary guide scope. Bad weather, other scope projects and refusal to spend money has slowed progress somewhat but tonight it all came together thanks to a $5 M52-> M42 ebay adapter :) That little gem connects the flattener to the filter wheel.

Here is a stack of 9 Ha shots, 10minute subs, median combined and DDP.

Still a bit to do with balance and getting the camera in a position so it can rotate. I have the scopes stacked and plonking a qhy9 and wheel on top doesn't work well. But I finally have a wide fielder working. Yippeee :D

[Octane]

Robin,

Wow! Must give this a go. Though, no idea how to connect the STL or the 5D Mark II to it...

H

[Tandum]

H, Connecting a cannon is easy, it's off the shelf parts. Have a look at a system chart.

Here's one. (http://www.trutek-uk.com/takahashi/FS-60CB(1)%20Photovisual%20SystemChart .pdf) Down the bottom for the reducer, Third from the bottom for the flattener.

Part 82 (SD Ring) comes with the scope. You'll need the CAA to achieve focus.

[Octane]

Oh, yeah, I've got all those downloaded -- should have checked that out. : )

Wonderful picture -- was it taken with a reducer, as well as a flattener?

H

[Tandum]

The reducer is a flattener as well but I could not justify a AU$450 reducer for an $800 scope, I bought the flattener for about AU$200. The flattener raises the F-stop to F6.2 (372mm, 45mm Image Circle), the reducer drops it to F4.4 (264mm, 44mm Image Circle). Focusing was very difficult, probably due to the weight I have hanging off the end. :(

[edit]
Taxman sent me this page (http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=10227)which shows backfocus for lots of tak flatteners/reducers. This one is

[Octane]

Thanks so much for the information, Robin. I've input both the reducer/flattener and flattener (the reducer is effectively 0.75x, whilst the flattener is 1.1x) as bits of equipment with relevant details in Starry Night Pro Plus so I can now see the effect they will have on the field of view. Excellent!

H

[Tandum]

Same here H, I had the mosaics set up in thesky before the scope was working :D
I'm amazed at what's coming out of this 60mm scope tonight.
Even the O3 looks good.

[richardo]

Nice work Robin... great that you got things sorted out.

I remember when the Taka 60C first came out and the wide field images some guys were turning out were nothing but spectacular.

For a tiny aperture, these little babies surely do perform to the 'Tack sharp' star mantra of Taka scopes!

Lookin' good... look forward to more from this setup

Rich

[AlexN]

Awesome.... In anyone's books they are awesome images, but to think they came from a 60mm scope that you consider to be a guide scope, that's flat out amazing... After seeing these pics you've got to admit the idea of the reducer for an even wider field is somewhat intriguing... :D Not that Im a massive fan of spending money... Just that, well... Imagine it.... :D

[Omaroo]

Robin - we've been PM'ing back and forth for a while over this. Great to see it finally working well. I have the Sky-90 reducer I'll try on mine (along side the 60 flattener), and the QHY-9, which will prove interesting.

[Tandum]

Chris, that opt page shows the backfocus for the sky90 reducer at 72.2mm :thumbsup:
I'm not sure how you add .2mm though :)

Alex, I must resist the urge to spend :) I have a newt to sort out next.

Cheers Rich, it has surpised me for a 60mm scope.

[Omaroo]

That's the beauty of it Robin. I can keep the CAA/reducer/FW/camera stack the same for either scope. No changes in between. Swap them around in 2 minutes, no probs.

[Garyh]

Very niiice! That little Tak does make some nice pictures.
One day, one day :thumbsup:

[renormalised]

Nice shot:)

The little Tak has a nice FoV:)

[RobF]

Glad to see you've got it cooking Robin.
I'm still rubbing my eyes at how amazing those pics look for a 60mm scope!

[Tandum]

If I can pair it up with the stellarvue 60 for guiding it'll make for a very light grab and go combo. RGB will be the test next new moon, there's no way to get an LP filter in the chain for here. Focus is difficult, it could really do with a 10:1 knob. Zooming in on those tiny stars in NB with a bart mask makes for long exposures to get the spikes and the focuser is pretty course as it is. If these clouds clear tonight I'll have a go at some long exposure S2 shots.