A clear night... first light... dare I?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Time for first light! It's been hiding in its box for the past few days for all the rain we've had. Tonight looks clear-ish, so out it comes.

The new Mewlon 210.

Can't wait to see what this little sucker can do for my lunar photography. Long focal length again - oh joy!

[leinad (Dan)]

Mmmm that's a lovely DK

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

DK.... yep - and it's first collimation tonight. Wish me luck! LOL!

It's basic collimation is pretty reasonable, I just used the old "concentric rings when standing in front of it at 6 diameters" SCT trick to get it at least showing detail. Transport knocked it for six. Star-tests a-plenty tonight me thinks.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Good luck Chris.
I'm sure she'll perform flawlessly.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Good luck Chris.
I'm sure she'll perform flawlessly.

Thanks Nettie We can go through the same trials and tribulations together....

[Dennis]

Hi Chris

The M210 looks quite handsome atop the G-11. How did you fit the Losmandy plate to the OTA – just the x2 M5 socket head cap screws?

Do you have the Tak standard eyepiece outlet or is there a motorised focuser fitted yet?

I’m sure you’ll have a grand night out with a lovely companion, gazing at the Moon!

Cheers

Dennis

[astronut (John)]

Bring it with you to Stargard Chris?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Hi Dennis

Yes, I just removed the standard Vixen-style dovetail and attached a Losmandy Universal D-Series plate to it using the existing screws. The Losmandy plate is a trifle thinner at the points the bolts go through, so there is more purchase into the foot threads on the OTA.

I've left the back standard tonight, just to get it working in basic trim. When it's collimated I'll get the new FeatherTouch attached and then motorise it. I have it all planned!

The moon is probably up a little late for me tonight (work tomorrow), but at least I'll hopefully have stars pinpoint. Maybe I'll set the alarm...

[DavidU (Dave)]

Awesome Chris You risk some serious weather anomalies with that thing

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by astronut

Bring it with you to Stargard Chris?

Not tonight John - it's been a long day. I have to pack tomorrow night, so that probably knocks that out too. We'll see if I can pack and have it finished tomorrow.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks David How's your setup going?

[DavidU (Dave)]

Good thanks Chris, the replacement 6" refractor is collimated etc.
Saving up for the camera next.

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Thanks David How's your setup going?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by DavidU

Saving up for the camera next.

LOL! Aren't we all! It's all on-going...

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Beautiful rig there Chris

Cheers Petra d.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks Petra

OK - first light has occurred...

I've tweaked collimation so that I get a concentric disk at centre. It's amazing how this is lost as soon as you start going off-axis. The concentricity is quite critical.

And.... diffraction spikes on bright stars. Weird!!! For a refractor guy, this is very strange. I'll let it get darker outside and see if I can see clusters as dots or cross-hatch fields...

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I like diffraction spikes.

[DavidTrap (David)]

Looks good Chris,

Hope that all goes well with collimation.

Still haven't had any favourable weather to try out the FS-102 though...

David T

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

Looks good Chris,

Hope that all goes well with collimation.

Still haven't had any favourable weather to try out the FS-102 though...

David T

So Brisbane's clouded out David? Have you tried it on a distant terrestrial subject?

[h0ughy (David)]

mmm your fault......nice scope Chris

[DavidTrap (David)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

So Brisbane's clouded out David? Have you tried it on a distant terrestrial subject?

Yeah, I have, but it's not the same.



DT