M20

[bert (Brett)]

Hi all,

Trying to sort out collimation on my VC200l, this is the first scope I have collimated, talk about jumping in the deep end! It still isnt quite there....

This image was taken 21/8/10 when the moon was very close to the object. Only 10* 10 min subs. M20 is such a beautiful object, it nice to see it come round every year, and it fits nicely in the ccd frame.

so;

VC200l @ 1800fl
st4000xcm
Eq6

Thanks for looking.

Brett

[Alchemy (Clive)]

Like the colors Brett, the core stars really give it that illuminated from the centre feeling.
Til I saw your shot I forgot I actually owned one of these vc200 scopes, I couldn't get over how lightweight it was, although it was reputed to be for imaging, I let it go due to aperture fever.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Nice shot Brett

Like the colour

[gregbradley]

Ripper shot Brett. Your stars are so tiny!

Fabulous. Needs more exposure time or no moon but under the conditions a great result. I'd say your collimation is very good.

Greg.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Yeh Brett that's a great shot of an ol favourite

The colours are rich and you have revealed the central stars nicely.

Mike

[multiweb (Marc)]

Great shot - beautiful res in the center stars.

[Doomsayer]

Nice image. Looking forward to seeing shots with the VC in better conditions.
guy

[leinad (Dan)]

Great shot Bert. Good to see the VC200L out
Were you running with AO ?

[bert (Brett)]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

Like the colors Brett, the core stars really give it that illuminated from the centre feeling.
Til I saw your shot I forgot I actually owned one of these vc200 scopes, I couldn't get over how lightweight it was, although it was reputed to be for imaging, I let it go due to aperture fever.

Thanks Clive,

The standard vc is incredibly light, mine......err..... isn't. See here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...t=carbon+truss

Carl,

Thanks, that means a lot, as you are one of the people who can explain what is happening in the image...

Greg,

Photoshop is my friend when it comes to star reduction, I'm pretty sure the collimation is still not right. Have a lokk at some of the lighter stars in the background... they are slightly triangular. This is not tracking as they are the same in every sub. Before I started the collimation they were far more triangular, still got a ways to go. It kinda like sorting out a Paramount for the first time.

Muscles,

Thanks, been working on getting the stars right, The colour technique was suggested by Louie (atalas). Works a treat (saturation was not used in ps).

Froggy,

Thanks heaps for teaching me the basics of collimation!!!!

Guy,

Looking forward to posting more, you built a great scope. I probably havent told you this yet but it had my new vixen fl102 (f9=long and an insanely heavy moonlite focuser) on its back for this image, I had an eyepiece in it and was having a look as the exposures where running. It didnt flex at all, even with all that weight on top.

Dan,

Yeah, ao was running, its the only guider I have now. It even dithers automatically for me...

Brett

[Alchemy (Clive)]

The standard vc is incredibly light, mine......err..... isn't. See here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...t=carbon+truss

Thats a bit of hardcore modifying you have had done, looks spectacular.