First light - finally

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Well Mt Campbell Observatory Mark III has officially been commissioned

No stunner images yet as I was just testing but still happy to finally take some images.

The fLI ProLine hasn't arived yet so I used my trusty little SXVH9. With my filterwheel in place I couldn't reach focus as the filterwheel motor is on the scope side of the wheel and hit the large 3" focuser rim before focus could be reached. So I removed the filterwheel and just stuck the camera in the two inch focus adapter. I couldn't use the scopes piece de resistance though, the huge 3" Keller Wynne corrector, as I don't have an adapter for it to attach to the SXV-H9. The SXVH9 has a small chip but the coma is still very strong in the images

See the top two thumbnails on the left here

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/new_observatory

Some interesting details and a link to the first light images are under each image. I am pleased with the image density achieved in short exposures - at F3.8.

Better images next time with the big FLI camera and corrector

Mike

[Gama]

Nearly ready to go Mike, you should be really happy with Kellers corrector.
I thought about getting one for my newtonian, and for what they, are they are cheap. Did you get it from Astrofox or there distributers ?.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

The Keller correctors are available exclusively through Astro Systeme Austria. I have the 3" version in my scope but a 4" version will be released soon with a 60mm+ corrected FOV for the large format chips that are becoming more popular now.

I purchased my ASA N12 OTA (with 3" Keller corrector) from Astro Systeme Austria.

http://www.astrosysteme.at/ikreator/asa/cms_pub/lang_en

Mike

[Gama]

They are the distributers for the Keller correctors. They were in such demand, he (Phillipp Keller) had to offload the work to Astro Systeme. You do have a good set of lenses there Mike.

[tornado33]

Excellent. With these Keller correctors, are they optomised for an exact F ratio, or do they work well over a range of F ratios?
Id also love to see how a modded DSLR works on a scope like yours, perhaps we can go the whole hog and borrow Houghys cooled one when it comes back, it produces next to zero noise at a sensor temp of 0 degrees c. Id tip that, say with an hours worth of imaging and a UHCS filter, stunningly faint emission nebulae could be imaged.

Your fast scope will be especially useful for comet imaging as well. I have a 6 inch "poor mans" version, a Meade Cometracker Schmidt Newt. Even with the corrector plate it has coma, but the Baader multipurpose coma corrector I have removes much of it.

Collimating is a challenge, Ive tried it by star testing, if I collimate to get round diffraction rings with, say a 4.8mm Nagler, when I use a barlow the rings are off centre, but if I re collimate they are off without a Barlow. I guess youve found out how touchy collimation is with your fast scope too. Yours has special tools for collimation?
Thanks

Scott

[Gama]

Hi scott, they work between certain ratios, so you could use it.
Go here http://www.astrooptik.com/sonstiges/.../NewtWynne.htm and check out the spot sizes, and read about the 3 element Wyne corrector, this is the smaller version (50mm).
Ive been thinking about getting this for some months now for my big newt.
Still thinking !.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Yes the Keller Wynne correctors are useful for any focal ration newtonian between F3.5 and F5.5. I have some info at my site regarding spots and vignetting:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/new_observatory

The corrector is 3" in diameter and about the size one of those older design large Nagler eyepieces. You can see it in the top left of this picture:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/72520337

It simply slips into any 3" focuser and your camera connects via an adapter and 6 screws. ASA will construct a camera adapter for your camera/spacer for US$155

http://www.astrosysteme.at/ikreator/...ent_66-en.html

If you wait a couple of months ASA will be releasing a 4" diameter corrector for a 60mm corrected image circle!

Collimation is a little fiddly compared to a SCT but not that bad. I have the CATSEYE collimation set and this is very sensitive for high precision collimation if one deires.

http://www.catseyecollimation.com/

Mike

[Striker (Tony)]

Looking good Mike,

You must be excited with the images you will be able to produce with this system.

Nice one.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

I tell ya! I'm ing and going but most of the time just patiently.......

Chris Willington in WA has an ASA N12 too which he recieved two weeks before me. Chris has managed to do some proper imaging under dark skies already with his STL11K and I tell you they are some of the best amateur images I've seen! Chris is the kind of imager who likes to get an image peeeerfect before releasing it but when he does I think they will cause a minor stir in the imaging world! I have been privy to the ongoing processing of them so I can tell you Chris's images have only made me more anxious to get going with the big FLI ProLine ....

Mike

[tornado33]

Excellent. Paul and I will have to come over one night and see it in operation
Gee a 4 inch corrector, thats seriously big.
Scott

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Yes and likely pretty expensive too. Then you need the 16803 camera with 37mm square chip...aaaaand FLI CFW-4-5 with 50mm square filters and then a larger and faster computer to handle the larger files and bigger hard drive to store them on and.......

What was that you said about winning loto?

Mike
still .....

[Garyh]

Now all this serious gear is making me sad!
...lotto lotto lotto..
Can`t wait for you to get your new ccd camera and post some first light pics..I bet they will be drop dead fantastic!!
Cheers Gary

[skeltz (Rob)]

Gee mike i think i ordered my STL11K about the same time you ordered your camera.mines going!! but then the j1 plug on the front cover that controls the filter wheel decided to dislodge itself!!so i suppose i shoudnt talk...until mr ward replaces it....you get that!!! rob

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Ah sigh...Tell me about it

The camera stands to be worth the wait in the end but sheesh a guy can only stand so much waiting before it finally him and eventually

Mike

[richardo (Rich)]

Hey Mike,
still waiting for that 'blessed' ccd....
With this post I was expecting all go.....
Man, talk about having to have patiences...
It is definately something we have to learn with this hobby.
Not that we like it all that much

Still, when it comes, you be pumping them out, and out and about in search of dark sky places.

One thing about fast Newts, you'll always be fiddling and finding the ins and outs to get those stars pinpoint and reveal the fait dust lanes.
Collimating is a must every time out I find with my scope. But it aint no ASA either. The Cats eye is an excellent device to further fine tune things though.

I have to get a larger secondary for mine, this is the culprit of my 5th spike I found out.... Still 31% obstruction won't be a matter.

Hang in there and look forward to your first light....(not as much as you though)

Cheers
Rich

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Hello Rickie Bickie

How's a hanging dude?

I'm still trying to get a large SX for you but Mike Hattey is very stubborn

yes patience is a virtue for sure.

Regards the collimation Chris Willington and Wolfgang Promper have shown it can be done (quite easily) with the CATSEYE tools and provide pin point (and I mean sharp!) stars from corner to corner of even the 16803 chip!

One of the things I was happy about was that in my first light imaging session with the N12 using a short home made foam dew cap no dew formed on the secondary or primary mirror during an all-nighter and it was a very dewy night. This was something I had concerns about but initial signs are good.

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...74373053/large

Mike