Well finally got around to using the new camera, CFW, OAG and Loadstar I have had sitting around since January
Mated to the AG12 the new camera, while smaller, provides me with 0.83"/pixel, compared to 1.62"/Pixel with the larger FLI PL16803, so is intended to provide some useful image scale for smaller things like PN's and galaxies particularly on nights of good seeing. It is coupled to the Starlightxpress Off Axis guider using the SX Loadstar as the autoguider, so this will assist with higher resolution work too by providing more accurate guiding.
You can see the new set-up
HERE and
HERE
The new gear all fitted and went together no problem and performed without a hitch, everything spoke to everything else - phew. Having two cameras that are compatible running through the same instance of software meant I could dither guide for the first time so no dark frames were necessary and no flats were required
This was a test image and the data was collected over two nights, the first night was reasonably good seeing and I grabbed 45min of Ha before cloud came over, the next night (last night) was clear but crap seeing
...but I gathered the OIII and SII anyway - better to have something rather than nothing
The Starlightxpress gear is very capable and works very well, so far I am very happy, when I get cooperative seeing this system will really rock
This is a straight SII Ha OIII (No RGB) of a small but relatively bright planetary in Musca which measures just 3' X 2' in angular size so I thought it a good first subject to test the resolution of the system
A Jewel in Musca
See a comparison with an image taken by the Gemini South 8m telescope
HERE
Looking forward to some clear steady skies
Mike