After smoke, extended cloud cover, and wind.... I have finally had a chance to setup the new Planewave CDK 12.5 and get some test data.
Bit of a difference to the FSQ....
For one, I can't really get away with no flats and I can't be as lazy with the alignments on the portable setup.
Anyway, collimation is stock as is from the factory (USA) to Australia. Brief checks with a holographic laser and later on a bright star showed it to be pretty tight. I may refine it once I get a bit more confident in knowing that any fiddling I do will be an improvement..... not the opposite.
Took my first flats ever, even though I now have a flatman it was a bit hard to get it setup where I located the rig for testing, so I had a go at skyflats just on sunset. Definitely made a difference! Not perfect I am sure, but wow! flats are cool!
Anyway,
Here is the test image details:
STT-8300M @-20C (0.44" sampling for 1x1, 0.88 2x2)
AO-8T operating @ 4Hz
5x 600 seconds for Luminance (bin 1x1)
1x 300 seconds for each R:G:B (bin 2x2)
Portable setup in my backyard, only 50 point T-Point, usually I operate at 200 but time was very limited, Pro-Track and PEC on.
Target off-set so I could use a guide star for the AO, avoided the rotator so I could utilise the sky flats I captured.
I'm pretty happy with the results, considering its only 65 minutes. Longer subs would be better, but this will be something to tune over time, depending how the small wells go.
Can't wait to get this all into a Dome!!!