WO Zenithstar 70ED first light. M8 in Ha.

[AlexN]

Hey everyone...

Well here's first light with my heavily downsized setup.. After having sold the EQ6, and the 8" RC... I Have had a slight reprieve and was able to get a HEQ5 mount and a Zenithstar 70ED APO...

Tonight I used the ST10, which will probably be the last time as it sold late last week, the new owner will be picking it up sometime this week...

Details:
ZS70ED @ F/6.2 (prime focus) 434mm FL.
ST10XEi with 13nm Lumicon Ha filter.
HEQ5 Pro.

60x1 minute exposures - unguided
15 darks, 15 bias
All at -10°c

I may upload a full sized image later tonight to my webspace, I used 2x drizzle, so the 3.2mp image came out at 4368x2944, and in my opinion is rather nice..

Cheers for looking!
Alex.

ps. I really do love this little girly scope I have.. Seems pleasing so far! I will need a flattener though when the larger sensor arrives..

[TrevorW]

Nice one Alex stay in there mate

a cheap modified 350d will do

Cheers

[Matty P (Matt)]

Good on ya Alex. Looks very nice to me. Can't really fault it.

It's too bad that you had to sell your RC and camera but at least you are getting some images with your new setup. What camera are you planning on getting? QHY8 or back to DSLRs?

Nice work.

[AlexN]

Luckily for me Trevor, Rather than a straight sale of the ST10, I was able to organise a trade for an Orion StarShoot Pro v.2 and some cash.. This way I'll still be using a cooled astro CCD, however it will be more like my old QHY8.. one shot colour (easy! )

Thanks mate.

[AlexN]

Matt - Cheers. Yes it was sad having to downgrade, however I can see myself still having plenty of fun with this little baby scope!

As mentioned in the above post I'll have my hands on an Orion SS Pro 2 by mid next week.. which in many ways is VERY similar to the QHY8... same sensor size, same resolution, very similar electronics etc.. slightly different in a few ways, but nonetheless a very capable camera... Should deliver a field about 1/3 bigger than the one shown in this image...

Strange, I've gone from wide field, to extreme narrow field, to semi narrow field and now to super-wide field in just over a year of imaging! lol..

[Dennis]

Hi Alex

A lovely image – you must have really enjoyed this capture, shooting at such a forgiving focal length compared to your previous rig.

So sorry to hear of your circumstances re the need to downsize and I hope that all is well with you and your family. You’re a young fella and have a lifetime ahead of you, so if you have to use what you call a “girlie” telescope for a short while, it really is of no consequence and you’ll have just as much fun under our beautiful southern skies.

Take care!

Dennis

[Alchemy (Clive)]

the girlie scope still captures photons, the 24 inch RC can wait just a little while longer i reckon.


clive

[Hagar (Doug)]

Sorry to hear of all your troubles Alex but good to see you haven't dropped your bundle and will still be imaging and posting. I have a 70ED as a guide scope and find it a very capable little scoe indeed.
Good luck with it all Mate.

[telecasterguru (Frank)]

Alex,

The 70 does a good job. Can you guide with the HEQ5?

Frank

[renormalised (Carl)]

Sorry to hear about you having to downsize. Hope things clear up for you soon. In any case, it's a great shot, mate

[Tamtarn]

With all that has happened Alex, it's nice to know that you will still have a setup for enjoying your interest in astro imaging.
All the best

David & Barb

[AlexN]

Thanks to everyone for the comments and kind words, I must say I'm very happy that I have been able to retain an imaging setup, regardless of how small it might be.. This way I can still enjoy doing what I love through these tough times....

Dennis - Funny you should mention enjoying capturing this image.. After the first sub downloaded from the camera, I took a look at the expansive field of view and got a rather big smile across my face. I dare say I'll really enjoy capturing wide fields for a while until I can get back into a longer focal length setup... As you say... I'm still young, and theres plenty of time for me to build up a big setup again in the future..

Clive - Yes it still catches the photons, and faster than the RC did too.. There sure is a lot of stars in this image for rather short 1 minute exposures.. Given the polar alignment I could probably have gone 2~3 minute subs, although I had to process out quite a few blooms in this image as it stands, so 3 mins would have made things quite difficult.

Doug - No need to drop a bundle you know.. Sure things are tough at the moment, but struggle is natures way of strengthening.. Just got to go with the flow and do the best with what you've got... I agree the 70ED seems to be a very capable scope, the optics look very nice... before drift aligning last night I took a close look at antares, alpha centauri, and Jupiter.. all seemed colour free and very sharp.

Frank - The 70 does appear to do a good job.. I'm sure when I flatten the field it will do better too! Colour will be the big test.. although from what I could decern visually the CA is very well controlled in this image and correction seems brilliant, even inside and outside of focus... Yes I can guide the HEQ5 pro, and have organised all the bits and pieces required. Next weekend I should be guiding, and taking much longer exposures with the colour camera..

Renormalised - Change is as good as a holiday in many respects.. Im taking a very positive stand point on my having to downsize... It gives me a chance to image targets that were not very appealing with the narrowfield imaging setup.. In time, I will build up a big rig again, and possibly keep this rig running too..

David & Barb - Thanks, I am very happy to be able to continue astro-imaging, and to be able to continue posting..

Thanks again everyone,
Your support is very much appreciated.

Alex.

[RobF (Rob)]

Good one Alex. It'll be interesting to see the new Orion in action too when the time comes.

[AlexN]

The Orion is in my hands right now.. first light up at 10 Chain Hill this weekend... Never wise to put new gear into the field for first light but hey.. what else can you do..

[RobF (Rob)]

Cool! - I'll be looking forward to seeing one in action "in the flesh".