Hello!!
Friday night was the first time that I could get my new scope, the GSO RC8 aka "Machiavelli", out for its first light.
I purposely chose a target that I knew would test my imaging train and that target was the Horsehead Nebula and Alnitak. This has a wide dynamic range and would certainly tell me how the system was working, or so the theory goes! I've attached the first light image which was taken using a QHY8L with a Baader UHC-S filter. It consists of 27 x 5 minute subs with darks, flats and dark flats applied. The processing isn't optimum as I wanted to highlight some problems I've encountered.
There are two problems that I can see besides some secondary mirror collimation which needs to be done. Firstly there is a line that goes across the image that correlates with the position of Alnitak. I can only assume that the star is overpowering the sensor and this is manifesting itself along the line of pixels. Secondly there are some fairly strong airy disks evident around/near Alnitak. Does anybody have any idea what might be causing those?
All in all I'm happy with my first light - I just need to sort out these teething problems!!
Any help/hints/advice greatly appreciated!!
Cheers,
Mario
PS I've also attached a picture of my setup in case it has a bearing on my image. Please note that the diagonal visible is NOT in my imaging train. It goes straight through...