Multiple first light!

AlexN · #1 24-07-2009, 11:56 PM

Tonight was a big test of a lot of new bits and bobs before I head to dark skies tomorrow night... I wasn't actually aiming to get anything special, as a matter of fact, I didn't even drift align the mount.. just a rough as guts setup using a compass..

All I really wanted to do was test out the Orion StarShoot Pro, and the QHY5 to see how they go, get an idea of where they focus in the scopes etc.. and take a few subs just to get guiding tweaked in order to make life easier tomorrow night..

Well, everything worked MUCH better than expected. there was no computer problems, no hardware problems, nothing of the sort.. it all just worked tonight..

Here is M8... (Ugh... again...)

15x300sec subs.
5x darks
10x bias
10x flats

Imaging scope : WO Megrez 90 FD
Imaging camera : Orion SS Pro
Guiding : WO Zenithstar 70ED
Guide cam : QHY5

(Ps. I need a field flattener or an MPCC badly!!

)

Cheers for looking..

Alex.

DavidU (Dave) · #2 25-07-2009, 12:00 AM

Alex, I would be very happy with myself if I were you !
Get the MPCC sorted and way you go

AlexN · #3 25-07-2009, 12:14 AM

Thanks mate, I am rather happy... Very happy to be back with a one shot colour camera too... Mono was too much for the lazy man I am!

Heres a slightly different version.. I added a synthetic luminance from the red channel of the image to give the Ha a bit of a boost... bit of a work in progress, but here it is anyway and in a slightly larger resolution..

http://www.darkskyau.com/cm/displayi...lbum=15&pos=16

Cheers

DavidU (Dave) · #4 25-07-2009, 12:20 AM

Yep ! That brings it out well.
Imagine that with point stars to the edge, well done !

Prickly · #5 25-07-2009, 12:36 AM

Thats a nice sharp refractor Alex. Really impressive widefield shot. As you say the Orion SS pro has come up a treat too.

Cheers
David

Alchemy (Clive) · #6 25-07-2009, 07:14 AM

nice wide FOV, the flattener is next on the list, it willl drive you nuts without it..... i thought the mpcc was pretty much a reflector item, query whether or not its the best for the refractor.

clive

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #7 25-07-2009, 07:16 AM

Wowee Alex!
Can't wait to see what you come up with tonight.

Hagar (Doug) · #8 25-07-2009, 08:39 AM

Hi Mate, Hows it all going? Nice image but I can see you need the flattener or at least an MPCC to fix up those corners.
The rest of your gear seems to be working really well. Look forward to seeing more.

What FL is the 90? Looks very similar to my FSQ, 530mm.

AlexN · #9 25-07-2009, 09:06 AM

the M90 is 621mm at the native F/6.9.. Im wondering if I'll go an MPCC or the 0.8x reducer/flattener to bring it down to ~497mm for that FSQ like FOV...

lesbehrens (Les) · #10 25-07-2009, 09:52 AM

wow. its amazing what longer exposures bring out.

renormalised (Carl) · #11 25-07-2009, 04:47 PM

Yep...field flattener need, but otherwise great details and a nice shot

Matty P (Matt) · #12 25-07-2009, 05:19 PM

Great first light Alex. Looks like your setup is producing the goods. The Orion SS Pro seems to be great as well.

Once you get the field flattener. Can't wait to see what you can come up with.

Well done.

gregbradley · #13 25-07-2009, 05:35 PM

You're off to a flying start there. Lovely shot.

Greg.

citivolus (Ric) · #14 27-07-2009, 11:57 PM

I've heard good things of the Televue flattener on the 90, and have had good experience with the Borg DG-L (sample frame sent by pm). Whatever you do, stay away from the Flat III

Good to see you've wasted no time getting this into use!

Regards,
Eric