Canberra Observing/Imaging Night

[stringscope (Ian)]

Matt has been wanting to try out the 24mm Konig eyepiece in his C9.25 so I met up with him at his place tonight armed with every eyepiece I have plus the 8" Stringscope.

We compared a number of eyepieces and filters in the two scopes over several hours and I then got to watch planetary imaging using a webcam followed by processing. I have not seen this before, very interesting.

I am afraid we were not very scientific in our approach to the equipment comparisons so we don't have the material for a formal review. However, I did note a few interesting observations:

I found the C9.25 a very nice SCT indeed. I noted this one was easy to focus to a sharp image and had very little mirror shift with focusing.

Prior to imaging Jupiter the visual targets were Jupiter, Eta Carina, Antares and M83.

We tried my 40mm Meade 4K SWA in the C9.25 and it worked very well indeed. I was expecting to see some vignetting, but it was not obvious. This eyepiece gives a 1.1 degree TFoV in the C9.25 and using a UHC filter the nebulosity surrounding Eta Carina was quite spectacular.

As expected @ F10, the 24mm Konig worked very well in the C9.25. However, I think Matt might be hanging out for 24 Pan or a 20 T5.

It was interesting to compare a Baader Neodymium filter against a blue filter on Jupiter. In both scopes @ about 250X, I felt the Nd filter showed a little more detail and provided a more pleasing image.

Once my scope had cooled down, it produced a nice clear split on Antares @260X. The C9.25 which was properly cooled down, could not quite keep up with the Newtonian, it did split Antares but only just.

I have not used a Pentax XW eyepiece before. Matt has a 10mm XW and I found it worked beautifully in both scopes and produced very sharp images. Despite the smaller AFoV I personally found it nicer to use than similar Nagler types, ie 12mm T4.

Using the C9.25 we compared Matt's 13mm T5 against a 20mm TV Plossl with a 2X Ultima barlow and a 9mm Meade 5K Plossl. I felt both Plossls produced better images of Jupiter than the 13mm T5 with the Meade producing the best image of the three.

At this point we shifted to imaging mode and I guess Matt will be posting some images later. I was amazed at how quickly one can generate a basic stacked and processed high quality planetary image, wow!

Many thanks to Matt and Rae for your hospitality.

Cheers,

[asimov (John)]

Sounds like you had fun guys! Good to see a photo of you 2 rough-necks to put a name to the face too

[matt]

It was a pleasure to host you, Ian.

We did have fun John. As Ian says we weren't particularly scientific in our approach. It was more like 2 kids having a good time with all their Xmas goodies, zipping around the sky looking at "stuff".

"Quick....have a look at this with this eyepiece" and "Wow! You've really got to check this out with this filter in at this magnification".

I've really got to get a Neodymium filter. If anyone has one they want to sell, let me know.

The highlight of the night for me was undoubtedly having a close look at Ian's stringscope. Impressive bit of home-made gear.

Thanks for the visit Ian. Good that the Canberra IIS boys can have a get together like some of our friends in other parts of the country.

And have a look at us... dressed for the Arctic conditions here in Canberra!!!!!!!!!!! It was beanies at 50 paces.

Hope we can do it again soon

Here's a quick Registax of the first avi of the night.

[raezee]

It was our pleasure to be your host Ian

I was particularly impressed by how quickly your string scope came together. And I can't wait to get my hands on one of your astro chairs - it sure beats knealing on the freezing concrete!

I guess I should introduce myself - Matt's partner and astro imaging sidekick here.

Ian tells me I'm a rare breed indeed - being one of very few astrodude females who will keenly venture outside in the freezing cold for an astro imaging session.

But heck, who could resist hanging out with those handsome lads in their beanies

Rae

[Lester]

Interesting reading,

Hope you have many more good times together. Nice image of Jupiter, Matt.

Ian, when do you expect the 16" to be up and running?

[asimov (John)]

A rare breed indeed Rae ! Top stuff getting out there with the boys

Welcome to IIS.

[stringscope (Ian)]

Originally Posted by Lester

Interesting reading,

Hope you have many more good times together. Nice image of Jupiter, Matt.

Ian, when do you expect the 16" to be up and running?

Hi Lester, mmmmmmmmmm............ 6 months at a guess Cheers,

[ving (David)]

i always thought you loked morelike your avatar matty

[matt]

Originally Posted by ving

i always thought you loked morelike your avatar matty

Nah.

I'm a little taller. just as cute

We share the same vacant stare