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Old 07-09-2010, 05:26 PM
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First Light Planewave CDK17 NGC253

I did a shakedown cruise of my new setup and discovered I had a part pushing the camera adapter forward causing the top 1/3rd stars to be a bit out of focus (since fixed it).

I now have everything working and it seems reliable.

Planewave CDK17, FLI Proline 16803, Starlight Xpress Lodestar autoguider on a MMOAG.

The Planewave has its own electronic focuser, fan and temperature control (it takes about 1-1.5 hours to equalise). The focuser works quite well although finding exact focus is not as easy as the refractors that snap to focus nor as easy as the RCOS I had. It isn't that hard either.
But it does seem to shift sometimes with temperature a bit and doesn't seem 100% repeatable. Then again it does work but you have to work it a bit. Perhaps I will add FocusMax to my routine to help there.

Otherwise it all seems to work according to their website and seems well made.

The Paramount does it job easily and is by far the best mount I have used. Also it is very easy to use and user friendly being so tightly integrated with The Sky 6.0. The Paramount throws this scope around like its nothing yet it weighs about 40kgs with cameras etc.

CCDSoft was used for acquisition.

I haven't had a lot of clear nights here, where it was clear all day then suddenly formed cloud at dusk several times.

This scope also (like any really) seems to need dark skies as the large mirror really scoops up the light including moonlight. Baffling could be improved as nearby bright stars can flare. It seemed even Ha during moonlight nights was picking up too much light pollution.

This image is :

NGC253 LRGB 170 50 50 50

http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/...28197233/large

A larger version around 2.3mb:

http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/...97233/original

Here is a photo of the setup:

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/127663527

Overall I am very happy with this scope. I can see an AO device may bring out more with it. It will also need dark skies and good seeing.
The autoguiding works well and is easy now it is setup. No trouble getting a guide star so far.

With the ML8300 camera, smallish galaxies will fill 2/3rds of the frame so that should be fun soon when I image a couple of the smaller ones.


Greg.
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Old 07-09-2010, 05:38 PM
Hagar (Doug)
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Looks very nice Greg. Have to say I'm envious. I better keep working for a few years and get myself a great mount.

Look forward to seeing some more images of nice galaxies in great detail.
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Old 07-09-2010, 05:47 PM
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Well, thats pretty good for a 1st light Greg. What were the exposure details? (or are they the telephone number ;-).
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Old 07-09-2010, 05:56 PM
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drool.

must have the setup!!

Great first light pic!
Rob
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Old 07-09-2010, 05:57 PM
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looks nice
Awesome bit of gear there !
frank
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Old 07-09-2010, 06:25 PM
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Wow !!! What a beauty ! Very nice processing indeed.
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Old 07-09-2010, 06:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hagar View Post
Looks very nice Greg. Have to say I'm envious. I better keep working for a few years and get myself a great mount.

Look forward to seeing some more images of nice galaxies in great detail.
Yes I am looking forward to taking more.
Perhaps even tonight, it seems clear out there for now.

Greg.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassnut View Post
Well, thats pretty good for a 1st light Greg. What were the exposure details? (or are they the telephone number ;-).
Thanks Fred. It was a gorgeous night last night. I am not sure seeing was the best but very clear and dark.
LRGB 170 50 50 50 all subs 10 minutes 1x1.

Quote:
Originally Posted by En1gma View Post
drool.

must have the setup!!

Great first light pic!
Rob
Hehe, thanks Rob.

Quote:
Originally Posted by spearo View Post
looks nice
Awesome bit of gear there !
frank
Thanks Frank. It is a very nice piece of equipment for sure.

I am looking forward to taking many images through it.

Greg
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Old 07-09-2010, 06:28 PM
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Quote:
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Wow !!! What a beauty ! Very nice processing indeed.
Thanks Antu. Cheers mate,

Greg.
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Old 07-09-2010, 06:37 PM
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What a beauty Greg! That is quiet impressive for a first light!

Now for more drooling over that big scope and mount...oh and camera!
cheers Gary
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Old 07-09-2010, 06:39 PM
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DavidU (Dave)
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Very nice image & equipment Greg.
The pic of the scope is a tad out of focus and needs a colour bal
I look forward to some more images from the CDK.
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  #11  
Old 07-09-2010, 06:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Antu View Post
Wow !!! What a beauty ! Very nice processing indeed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garyh View Post
What a beauty Greg! That is quiet impressive for a first light!

Now for more drooling over that big scope and mount...oh and camera!
cheers Gary

Thanks Gary.

I took my time getting used to the gear and checking it out.

Greg.
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Old 07-09-2010, 08:37 PM
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Very very nice Greg. Pleased to hear its all coming together. Great effort for the gear's first trip up to "lightspeed"!
Sounds like a legendary setup.
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  #13  
Old 07-09-2010, 09:10 PM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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Way to go Greg!! Off to a great start - that's a very nice image! Definitely feel some scope envy coming on!!

Cheers, Marcus
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Old 07-09-2010, 09:20 PM
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A very nice pic Greg, with a very nice 'scope!

Cheers
John
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  #15  
Old 07-09-2010, 09:26 PM
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RB (Andrew)
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Gorgeous first light image Greg.
Awesome setup !

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Old 07-09-2010, 09:41 PM
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Now that is a telescope worthy of the name! At 40kg on the mount, it must have taken a forklift or something to assemble it ...

The image of NGC 253 is very sweet too.

Envy strikes again ...

Regards,
Tony Barry
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  #17  
Old 07-09-2010, 09:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RobF View Post
Very very nice Greg. Pleased to hear its all coming together. Great effort for the gear's first trip up to "lightspeed"!
Sounds like a legendary setup.
Thanks Rob. It wasn't too painful getting it all going either!

Quote:
Originally Posted by marc4darkskies View Post
Way to go Greg!! Off to a great start - that's a very nice image! Definitely feel some scope envy coming on!!

Cheers, Marcus
Thanks Marcus. I was a bit concerned with the initial images showing out of focus stars in the upper left but once I found out why and it fixed it I was happy.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scorpius51 View Post
A very nice pic Greg, with a very nice 'scope!

Cheers
John
Thanks John.

I am still getting used to it but I can see it will provide a great platform for lots of imaging.

Quote:
Originally Posted by RB View Post
Gorgeous first light image Greg.
Awesome setup !

Thanks RB. I took a long time to work out which scope to get. There's quite a bit of choice out there these days.
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  #18  
Old 07-09-2010, 09:58 PM
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Good on you Greg for getting it all up and running - really nice first light image and the rig... well ... you can stop buying stuff for a while now.

James
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  #19  
Old 07-09-2010, 11:09 PM
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strongmanmike (Michael)
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Well Bravo Greg, that is an excellent NGC 253 and probably the best processing I have seen by you on a galaxy, a fantastic natural look and a perfect FOV for that galaxy. Perhaps the seeing wasn't optimal this time but when it is I can see some Johannes Schedler Namibian quality forthcoming

Mike
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  #20  
Old 07-09-2010, 11:42 PM
beren
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Congratulations Greg excellent image exciting times ahead, impressive equipment very envious I tried a run on NGC253 as well with my new camera but got freakishly got clouded out again as the first sub was starting grrr
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