Here's my first picture taken this week on Tuesday from Wiruna with my C11/Hyperstar 3 combo. First time I've used the scope with this system since I've put it back together. Big learning curve still but I'm very happy with the results so far. This is 30x2min with a Baader UHC-S nebula filter so 1h all up. There's a bigger version at: http://www.multiweb.com.au/astro/hs3_IC434_f.jpg
I need to re-arrange the cables a little better and shorten the dewshield heaps when I'm in an open field. Was a real pain to guide with the slightest breeze shaking the scope around. But the good thing is you can keep shooting subs in the wind and the odds of getting good ones are still pretty high.
Yes, a top result for 2 min subs, whats the F now?. The cables and secondary obstruction dont seemed to have hurt much, the difraction spikes look fine.
Thanks guys. Yeah no flat fielding or calibration. Haven't figured out that part yet. Soon. Just stacking for now. No noise to deal with either.
Vigneting is almost non existent on the QHY8 chip size with the hyperstar. All the fog stuff is brown nebs coming out of the subs. You can see it next to the flame as well, streaks going down.
Fred, you can see the black cables shadows in Alnitak halo. Although having the 3 cables in different directions did improve the spikes on the bright stars. I need to hide the shadows behind the diffraction spikes. Got a few ideas.
Maybe I should push exposures to 5min see what happens. Still testing the waters. I was more focused on guiding and trying to keep focus that night to worry about everything else really.
Other than that I'll be good to go 100% soon. Downside is that I have another 5 DSOs, about 150 subs to process.
Thanks for the feedback.
I am very impressed. Guiding looks great but then again the subs are short. System shows enormous promise. Lots of detail and the focus looks sharp as a tack.
I am very impressed. Guiding looks great but then again the subs are short. System shows enormous promise. Lots of detail and the focus looks sharp as a tack.
Bring on the other 5.
Frank
Thanks Frank. Will post some more tomorrow hopefully. I bought a microfocuser for the C11. It helps a lot. The CFZ is pretty tight with the Hyperstar.
Fred the F-ratio is F/1.8 or 504mm FL for 11" aperture. Image scale is 2.87 arcsec/pixel on the QHY8.
I've been waiting for this one!! Im lovin it Marc, Its definitely a serious astrograph when you can have that field of view at F/1.8.. Target something like B30 or LDN1622 to really see what the setup is made of!
I've been waiting for this one!! Im lovin it Marc, Its definitely a serious astrograph when you can have that field of view at F/1.8.. Target something like B30 or LDN1622 to really see what the setup is made of!
Thanks Alex. Yeah the field's pretty neat hey? Better than my newt No as flat but certainly coma free.
Will have to try those targets you've mentioned. I'll google'em up first.
They are both really interesting looking, rather expansive dark nebulae with reflection nebulae scattered through them.. Perfect for the super fast HS3 setup.
Wow, this does look impressive Marc. Such a quick scope you've got there. shame about the flats however. You really need to do them to get the most from the data. You'll probably find sky flats will be logical with the faststar system. Nice work, well done.
Wow, this does look impressive Marc. Such a quick scope you've got there. shame about the flats however. You really need to do them to get the most from the data. You'll probably find sky flats will be logical with the faststar system. Nice work, well done.
Thanks Jase. Yeah I realise that... Calibration would have improved those shots ten folds but the breeze was a bit too much the first night and I decided to remove the dew shield. So that meant cutting power and tracking, un-plugging the camera (as the cables go through the dew shield), re-plupging, goto, re-sync, framing, guiding then shooting again. When it came to do flats I went because I place an EL sheet on top of the dew shield. Hence the need for a shorter dewshield version. All problems comes when playing with new stuff. I'll be right with another couple of dud runs untilI get it right
Fred, you can see the black cables shadows in Alnitak halo.
Very nice result Marc, get flats/calibr working mate and you'll be laughing.
I noticed the cable shadows in Alnitak, I suppose they only really show up on very bright star halos.
Very nice result Marc, get flats/calibr working mate and you'll be laughing.
I noticed the cable shadows in Alnitak, I suppose they only really show up on very bright star halos.
Anyway well done.
Thanks Andrew. I'll calibrate the next lot for sure.
I reckon if I get the cable shadows right under the diffraction spikes I can hiode them. That's what the pros seem to do.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexN
if this is a dud run, i cant wait to see when you do something good!!!!!
Very deep result for 2 min subs!
Might have to arrange the cables into 2 lots to give you a nice cross diffraction spike like a newt? I would love to see what this would pull in, in a really super dark location!
Very deep result for 2 min subs!
Might have to arrange the cables into 2 lots to give you a nice cross diffraction spike like a newt? I would love to see what this would pull in, in a really super dark location!
Thanks Gary. Wiruna is dark enough but I'm planning a trip sometime to Coonabarabran. I'll also try 5-10min exposures in area devoid of bright stars and see what comes up. There are still a lot of things I need to do prior to finalise the rig, calibrating being the most important.
No as flat but certainly coma free. 
Calibration would have improved those shots ten folds but the breeze was a bit too much the first night and I decided to remove the dew shield. So that meant cutting power and tracking, un-plugging the camera (as the cables go through the dew shield), re-plupging, goto, re-sync, framing, guiding then shooting again. When it came to do flats I went 
because I place an EL sheet on top of the dew shield. 
Me too 
