First light Tak BRC250 Lagoon Nebula

gregbradley · #1 13-09-2008, 10:02 AM

Tak BRC 250 with Apogee U16M camera and Apogee FW50 7 position filter wheel on Tak NJP mount. 50mm 5nm Ha and 5nm O111 Astrodon filters.

5 x 15 minutes each filter.

ST402ME guide camera on an Astrotech 66ED scope piggybacked on the BRC 250.

I love this scope already, F5, 100mm corrected image circle, nice looking scope.

From my Sydney backyard observatory.

http://tinyurl.com/4l6yv2

Greg.

Craig_L · #2 13-09-2008, 10:13 AM

Wow. Lovely detail. Craig

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #3 13-09-2008, 11:12 AM

Ohhh.. luvverly scope, and great photo. Say no more - it's a Tak.

leon · #4 13-09-2008, 11:51 AM

I bet you love it Craig, it is a Tak you know,

very, very nice image indeed, well done.

Leon

sjastro · #5 13-09-2008, 12:20 PM

Nice image Greg.

I gather there are no backfocus distance issues affecting image quality?

Regards

Steven

bluescope · #6 13-09-2008, 12:54 PM

A very beautiful image Greg ... nice fov for a 250mm ! Just did a search on the BRC250 and it looks like a very nice scope .... Ouch on the wallet .... look forward to seeing more images from it .... have fun !

p.s. Attached a couple of pics of scope for those who, like me, may not be familiar with it. Hope you don't mind Greg.

gregbradley · #7 13-09-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjastro

Nice image Greg.

I gather there are no backfocus distance issues affecting image quality?

Regards

Steven

I measured it pretty closely. I needed to get 106.2mm and I was close. I removed a spacer ring from the off axis guider which made it pretty much exact.

Greg.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #8 13-09-2008, 03:18 PM

Looks promising..?

Not as "snappy" and sharp as I would have expected..?..but I am an APO deciple I guess

and it isn't a very big file so detail is lost, can you post the full frame version too?

Look forward to seeing more.

Mike

gregbradley · #9 13-09-2008, 11:21 PM

Hi Mike,

I'll post a bigger file tomorrow.

With the large files I was surprised at how far you can zoom into the image without breakdown. More than any other scope I have had including the RCOS.

As I mentioned in another post the O111 was at 2x2 and seemed a bit foggy. I think 1x1 may be better and save the 2x2 for use at my dark site. 2x2 seemed to pick up some light pollution.

I need to shoot some better flats as well.

I am looking forward to doing some LRGB. I also have a clear (no IR UV block) filter which should be good for dust images and galaxies.

Greg.

iceman (Mike) · #10 15-09-2008, 05:07 AM

Lovely depth and detail, Greg. Beautiful image.

Jeffkop (Jeff) · #11 15-09-2008, 09:43 AM

Absolutely awesome Greg

RB (Andrew) · #12 15-09-2008, 11:30 AM

A wonderful image Greg and a wonderful scope.

Congrats !!!

Lester · #13 15-09-2008, 11:35 AM

Wow, for image and scope.

Have fun.

RayOfLight · #14 15-09-2008, 06:05 PM

Nice tight stars and great colour on the Lagoon! Great work, Greg!

gregbradley · #15 15-09-2008, 06:23 PM

Thanks very much Jeff,Craig,Leon, Steven, Steve,Mike S, Mike,Andrew, Lester and Remus.

This is a great group.

Greg.

winensky · #16 17-09-2008, 11:31 AM

Beautiful. I don't know about foggy. Just a lovey natural transition between colours and there is no loss of focus or detail as you zoom. Great scope. Congratulations

Ric · #17 17-09-2008, 12:09 PM

Lovely image Greg, I like the way the nebulosity depth gives the appearance that you are staring into an entrance of a vast cavern.

Top stuff

gregbradley · #18 17-09-2008, 08:27 PM

Thanks Matt and Ric.

A lot of these nebula objects seem to be in a sea of much fainter nebula
that takes aperture and exposure time to bring out.

I looking forward to several nights of clear and dark skies at my dark site
to put the scope/camera through its paces.

Greg.

h0ughy (David) · #19 17-09-2008, 08:54 PM

Greg - stunning, what a great shot to show off your new gear.

gregbradley · #20 17-09-2008, 10:27 PM

Thanks Houghy.

Greg.