Barlowing my 5" Newt

multiweb (Marc) · #1 19-08-2009, 01:03 PM

You might recall I posted a while ago a barlowed shot of M83 on an ED80 that had a bit of flexure. Since then I have been working towards modifying my imaging rig to barlow my 5" newtonian. Here's two test shots I did from my backyard. Last night transparency wasn't that hot but seeing must have been good. Better than my tracking anyway

Shots show potential. 1h on M8 and 2h on M16 up close.

I also attached a pic of my rig. The mods consist of a T6 Alumium plate (13mm) bolted on the Losmandy doveplate, a 12mm angle plastic bracket to hold the GSO extension tubes and 100mm steel counter-weight discs cut to size to balance the other side from 1kg to 1.6kg in 50/100g increments. Image scale jumps from 2.5 arcsec/pixel to around 1.2arcsec/pixel.

Dennis · #2 19-08-2009, 01:28 PM

Wow - that is very nice work indeed! Both the mods you’ve made and the images - well done!

Cheers

Dennis

renormalised (Carl) · #3 19-08-2009, 01:31 PM

Very well done, Marc

gbeal · #4 19-08-2009, 02:58 PM

Looks good Marc, why not just splurge on a new longer focal length scope like everyone else, LOL.
Wee bit of coma, especially near the top?
Gary

multiweb (Marc) · #5 19-08-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renormalised

Very well done, Marc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

Wow - that is very nice work indeed! Both the mods you’ve made and the images - well done!

Cheers

Dennis

Thanks guys

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbeal

Looks good Marc, why not just splurge on a new longer focal length scope like everyone else, LOL.
Wee bit of coma, especially near the top?
Gary

$200.00 mod tops to get 5" F/10. Why try harder? I don't splurge on scopes. My next scope will be a GSO RC 12" or more when they make it. I think hard about what I need to do the job before buying anything

Besides the small newt is really handy to move around. Just plonk it in the grass and start shooting. Too easy.

beren · #6 19-08-2009, 03:52 PM

Very nice work Marc, really like the M8 image......nice handiwork to with the mods.

DavidU (Dave) · #7 19-08-2009, 04:09 PM

Great setup ! I like the Acrylic tube support. Very clever

strongmanmike (Michael) · #8 19-08-2009, 04:45 PM

Very inovative Marc and I guess now you have two scopes in one neat little package

Mike

multiweb (Marc) · #9 20-08-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beren

Very nice work Marc, really like the M8 image......nice handiwork to with the mods.

Thanks Beren. Yeah the tracking was ok on this one

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidU

Great setup ! I like the Acrylic tube support. Very clever

Actually I didn't think about it. I knew I needed a block machined with a hole precisely placed and bored. When I brought the drawing concepts to the plastic place the people there proposed to bend a piece of 12mm plastic. I didn't even know that could be done. Very solid too. You can drill it, tap it, etc... and it's very light weight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Very inovative Marc and I guess now you have two scopes in one neat little package

Mike

Thanks Mike. Yeah I was happy with the preliminary results.

Pretty much in a rotten mood today though. I was really really looking forward to this new moon week-end and it looks like it's not going to happen

I'm pretty close to take a couple of days off next week and make up for it. I haven't had a clean run since before the SPSP and that wasn't exactly astro-friendly skies.

RB (Andrew) · #10 20-08-2009, 08:13 PM

What a great little mod and well executed Marc !!

Both lovely images mate but I especially like M16.

multiweb (Marc) · #11 21-08-2009, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RB

What a great little mod and well executed Marc !!

Both lovely images mate but I especially like M16.

Thanks Andrew. It works great and I'm very happy with the results. Just have to sort out some tracking issues due to the added weight but getting there. Found out last night a bit of grease on my clutches

Faster RA than usual

Pictures just show that you can really push a small 5" newt to the limit and it still delivers acceptable results. There's no such thing as bad gear, only bad users. How many times did I think this scope is c**p and I need another one

Kirkus (Kirk) · #12 21-08-2009, 08:47 AM

I, too, especially like the acrylic support. That's genius!

I've often times thought about barlowing my DSLR on my 6" newt. Now I'm seriously thinking about giving it a go.

Very nice, Marc. Thanks for the inspiration.

multiweb (Marc) · #13 21-08-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkus

I, too, especially like the acrylic support. That's genius!

I've often times thought about barlowing my DSLR on my 6" newt. Now I'm seriously thinking about giving it a go.

Very nice, Marc. Thanks for the inspiration.

Thanks mate. My advice is do it. If your scope can resolve past your current image scale then you'll be amazed. Here's another pic of the set-up with the balancing weights in place. Got a bunch of 100mm discs done. 1x17mm (1kg) 5x2mm (approx. 100g each) and 3x1mm (50g each)