Life and Liberty in mono

[Paul Haese]

I now have my STXL back from repairs and decided as a test run I would image NGC3576 again. In the interim I have washed the primary and reset the collimation again on the scope. I have been impressed by other renditions here taken with higher resolutions to the one I just did with the FSQ and thought it a good test to see if the collimation on the scope was ok or not. I think the collimation looks pretty good generally. I do really need to get a flattener for this scope, but balk at sending 3K+ on one from ASA.

This integration is only 3.5 hours and I will add a fully Hubble palette if I get time.

Click here for larger resolution.

Feel free to comment how you wish.

[alpal]

Nice image Paul,
It's an excellent scope -
yes the center stars are perfect while the ones in each corner
are slightly elongated.
I don't know if it's worth a flattener or not?

cheers
Allan

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Wow! The contrast and sharpness in this image are a pleasure to see.

You've encouraged us to clean our primary mirror (which is looking alarming. Perhaps that will help with our contrast too.

[gregbradley]

Yeah that's real nice Paul. Remarkable detail in the brighter areas of 3576.

Top of the image corners show a tad more elongation than the bottom so I'd say you need to pack out the bottom of your camera a tad (.2mm). A bit of brass shim should even it out.

Greg.

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

It is great that you got your camera back Paul. I admit I carefully compared your image to mine and I really like how your image is so sharp and stars are very tight.

Looking forward to the completed project Paul.

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by alpal

Nice image Paul,
It's an excellent scope -
yes the center stars are perfect while the ones in each corner
are slightly elongated.
I don't know if it's worth a flattener or not?

cheers
Allan

Its just more for the sake of perfection than anything else. I have been advised about some software that will deal with the corners so I will give that a go.

Originally Posted by Placidus

Wow! The contrast and sharpness in this image are a pleasure to see.

You've encouraged us to clean our primary mirror (which is looking alarming. Perhaps that will help with our contrast too.

I noted that my images were starting to suffer from what looked like progressive fogging over the course of a night. So one task was to eliminate all the possible causes of this occurrence. So far this seems like this was the problem.

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Yeah that's real nice Paul. Remarkable detail in the brighter areas of 3576.

Top of the image corners show a tad more elongation than the bottom so I'd say you need to pack out the bottom of your camera a tad (.2mm). A bit of brass shim should even it out.

Greg.

This might well be the crop I used Greg. I have some shims but have found another issue looming where it looks like using the rotator is causing some tilt. I suspect something is not housed properly and will need a bit of a look in the coming weeks.

Originally Posted by Slawomir

It is great that you got your camera back Paul. I admit I carefully compared your image to mine and I really like how your image is so sharp and stars are very tight.

Looking forward to the completed project Paul.

I did likewise Suavi prior to posting my image. I noted that your image was quite sharp at the time of viewing it and was curious as to whether my image was of the same sharpness.

[RickS (Rick)]

Fantastic detail, Paul! Hope the camera stays home and continues to perform this time.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

Tack sharp Paul. The elongation in the corners looks pretty symmetric, so it doesn't look like collimation is an issue.
Geoff

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

I now have my STXL back from repairs and decided as a test run I would image NGC3576 again...........

Feel free to comment how you wish.

Hopefully the camera will now give you some dependable service !

In any event, I like the fact that you got the "twister" in the bright cloud section. Should make a great image when done!

I'm not sure about the veracity of getting a flattener that is not designed for the scope. Both my AP & Alluna flatteners need to be with 1-2mm for optimum results...and I have difficulty seeing how the optical curves can match otherwise.

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

A great image Paul. I think Ms Liberty is displayed very well in all her grandeur.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Pinpoint stars and really sharp details. Very cool shot.

[Andy01 (Andy)]

That's awesome resolution Paul, you've gotta be happy with that!

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys for your comments. For a test image I am pretty happy with sharpness and detail. I actually think the collimation is better this time around too.

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Hopefully the camera will now give you some dependable service !

In any event, I like the fact that you got the "twister" in the bright cloud section. Should make a great image when done!

I'm not sure about the veracity of getting a flattener that is not designed for the scope. Both my AP & Alluna flatteners need to be with 1-2mm for optimum results...and I have difficulty seeing how the optical curves can match otherwise.

Yes let's hope for some duration of service now. Data looks clean in any event, so far so good.

I quite agree about buying a flattener from another manufacturer is going to be fraught with danger and very experimental. The trouble with the flattener is that Jim Sheng does not seem to want to produce a flattener. If only I could get hold of a cheap RCOS flattener. That might actually be reasonably close to the mark. Got one laying around?

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

If only I could get hold of a cheap RCOS flattener. That might actually be reasonably close to the mark. Got one laying around?

Sorry no. ....Can get you an Alluna one...but somehow I think it will be the wrong optic at decidedly the wrong price.

[gregbradley]

Its highly likely a Tak flattener would fix it. Experimental but likely in my experience flatteners are relatively flexible.

Greg.