Gone over to the coloured side: NGC2070 & NGC253

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

A number of months ago I posted a poll on which camera SX-M25C or Qhy10. For a variety of reasons I went for the SX (my previous experience with SX weighted heavily in its favour) and over the past few months between clouds and 'life' I've been in the process of fine tuning my imaging setup.

Over the last weeks during the brightening moon I caught enough clear sky to really take a some shots in anger. Overall I'm happy with the result.

First 2 images
Kit:
VC200L (fully refurbish but still a bit shy on collimation) & SXVR-M25C @ f/9.
OAG with EX-view auto guider. (still fun getting guidestars but the Exview makes a huge difference)

NGC253: 12/ 300sec taken on 24/10 (dark)
NGC2070: 27/300 taken 7/11 (quarter moon)

Seeing was not good on either night and I need much longer subs. I'm still working on the colour balance but for 5 min subs I'm pretty happy. Photoshops skill need some refreshing big time . I'm not sure if I've overcooked the red at each end of image 2 though.

Third image
Kit:
Vixen R200SS. All other details the same except guided using a 50mm stellarvue finder and Exview.

NGC253: 15/300 sec taken 2/10

[h0ughy (David)]

nice to see the vixen get some use - 3rd has a touch cast of green but i love your results.

[atalas]

Hey Paul

Good choice in camera ! nice results too....doesn't look like you processed in anger.

I've got a mates VC200L on loan at the moment which I'm looking for to testing as soon as the clouds pee off.

I take It you've read about the issues with these scope? planning on doing any mods to the VC? you say you fully refurbished....what did you do?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Thanks Dave and Louie.

I'll work on it Dave been along time between drinks.

Full refurbishment means sending scope to Japan to have the primary mirror reground and coated and the installation of a new focuser tube and pinion shaft. Collimation has been a bit tricky but I think i'm getting there. I know about the square stars issue but please enlighten me about any others. I may install some thinned vanes at a future day but atm I'm not too worried about the blocky stars.

[RickS (Rick)]

Good to see you're getting some promising images, Paul. Look forward to seeing what that setup can produce once you've got the bugs ironed out!

Cheers,
Rick.

[Ric]

Lovely work Paul.

Number 3 image looks great with NGC253 just hanging there in space.

[atalas]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

Thanks Dave and Louie.

I'll work on it Dave been along time between drinks.

Full refurbishment means sending scope to Japan to have the primary mirror reground and coated and the installation of a new focuser tube and pinion shaft. Collimation has been a bit tricky but I think i'm getting there. I know about the square stars issue but please enlighten me about any others. I may install some thinned vanes at a future day but atm I'm not too worried about the blocky stars.

Ah,I see...regrinding?I have heard that part of the figure is made up from the coatings and that's why you can't just have the mirror re coated by anyone.

Yes,collimation tricky,with focuser,secondary and main mirror to worry about but not impossible.

With the mods Paul,yes the spider vein seems to be the main culprit but I've seen the results of stars after the milling down of the veins and can say that they look great with a wonderful luminosity...well worth the effort from what I've seen.

Interesting,you see the same fat spider veins on Tak's BRC and again the result I've seen is the blocky stars.

Anyway,good luck with It all and hope to see more from the VC If the weather ever improves.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Yeah well this mirror was scratched so there wasn't much of an option, back to the factory.

Yes I've seen the results from the milled vanes as well and they look great. I must admit it the thought of recollimating that's putting me off.


You know the money and time I've spent on 8" SCTs and Newts I would have been better off buying a 6" apo to start with lolol. Though the extra FL is nice

[midnight (Darrin)]

The third image there Paul is really nicely presented and I enjoyed looking at this one a lot.

Impressive collection there (esp image 3).

Darrin...

[allan gould]

Paul
Pmed you
Allan

[Ross G]

An impressive trio Paul.

Ross.