Helix season - Orion Optics AG-10 First Light

[cventer]

Promised myself I would not post a first light till I had the new scope sorted.

Cant help myself though. Weather cleared in Melbourne Monday night.

This is 50 minutes on the Helix of 5min Ha exposures. Just some basic stretching and a little bit of sharpening. I did not try correct the gradient I know is there.

Whats amazing is how much data this thing gathers at f3.8 with only 5 minute exposures.

Now for the excuses: :P

-Seeing was VERY poor

-Correct Adaptors and spacing had not arrived yet so I hand made an adaptor from old focal reducer and hacksaw. Its not quote square and spacing slightly out so stars in corners are slightly elongated.

Will post up full res later. Also some pics of the new beastie.

[strongmanmike]

Looking good so far Chris ;)

Mike

[gregbradley]

Very nice Chris and congrats on your new setup.

What camera is that? STX 16803 or STT8300?

Are 10 or 15minute subs possible? Any signs of flexure?

Greg.

[cventer]

Thanks. If you look carefully you can start to see tha faint outer areas being picked up just below and to right of main helix. I did not spend much I've trying to bring this out on this image. Few more exposures or bumping to 8 or 10 min exposures will bring this out easily.

My initial anxiety about collimationg this fast newt have gone away completely. With the catseye tools especially the 2 pupil auotocollimator and the radition hotspot it's dead easy.

[cventer]

Greg

That's the stf-8300

The stx is nearly double the size.

No flex that I can see on 5 min subs.

I also didozone 8 min ones on another target and they had no signs of flex.

[RickS]

Good to see you're up and running, Chris!

[dvj]

Nice one! I had a gradient problem with my ASA N12 until I put a 12-inch tube extension ahead of the secondary to cut the stray light.

jg

[strongmanmike]

Told you :thumbsup:

Mike

[David Fitz-Henr]

Nice setup Chris - considering that you say your makeshift adapter is not quite square it is surprising how good the image is at f/3.8!

[Martin Pugh]

Very cool set up there Chris.

Glad to see you going with SBIG!

You are going to have loads of fun with those f3 optics.

cheers
Martin

[prokyon]

Very, very nice equipment ;). I hope you will habe many clear nights with it. And Helix looks good so far. I love this nebula.

Regards

Werner

[gregbradley]

That's good news. The 8300 would be a lot lighter than the STX so that becomes vital.

I wonder how it will stand up to the STX weight? It may well be fine.

Greg.

[multiweb]

That's looking very promising. Nice rig.

[strongmanmike]

Never really seen the need (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/hubble_comparisons)for self guide myself before :shrug:...buuuut have to say, these fast Newtonian rigs with big chip and heavy cameras and filterwheels attached are a little different story. With the chip in front of the filters it may well be more useful :question:

Mike

[Ross G]

Nice looking photo Chris and a great looking setup.

Good luck.

Ross.