FSQ106EDX4 first light - fixed the blue

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Well some 18 months after its inception in my mind....I don't know what to say really ...other than I am utterly flabbergasted...I knew this scope was good and that it had a great reputation (hence why I went with it over other scopes) but it is not until you see it with your own eyes and use it for yourself that you finally understand ...

Because I had work the next day, I only went out to test the operation of the whole new rig, to make sure the NJP was going to handle the massive load for slews and guiding, get the MegaMOAG setup, see if there was any image plane tilt and generally shake down the system...and the whole shebang worked flawlessly first go all essentially perfect ...so I did a first light image

The NJP handled the almost 100kg total load riding on it, no slipping when doing gotos, the MegaMOAG was easy to setup and the auto guiding was bloody perfect, dithering worked and the Robofocus worked perfectly too, even when the massive imaging end (ProLine16803+CFW-5-7+MegaMOAG and Lodestar) was hanging nearly straight down and scope pointing nearly straight up! No obvious image plane tilt was evident and the focus held stable for the whole 3 hours of imaging this field, with only one small tweak of two button presses near the end...

After sitting idle for 4 years, the big FLI Proline 16803 worked without a hitch, like it had never stopped....

I really have to give the kit and whole setup one of these... man, was I happy

Then the first frame came down ...and I was totally floored a massive 4deg X 4deg field full of pin point stars corner to corner..so again, essentially perfect

The only negative was I had no flat field panel....that arrived just today so the small amount of vignetting could not be flattened out...next time

So Pickle me Grandmother...Happy days

Here is the full res first light image, the small attachment below is only a crop so please open the big file and go for a swim

This is a modest exposure with minimal processing, test image - all capture details are under the image:

SMC and 47Tuc Now with flats (Full frame 100% Full Res image 20meg) please feel free to zoom out in your browser to fit it all on your screen.

The sky is the limit now

Mike

[Joshua Bunn (Joshua)]

Isn't it just fantastic when it works like i was suppose to, loved reading your write up, and looking forward to more of your great shots like this Mike.

Josh

[Atmos (Colin)]

Fantastic Mike! Isn’t is just wonderful when everything works.

Are you now to have both rigs going at once? Go both low and high resolution.

[el_draco (Rom)]

Wall to wall...

[Octane (Humayun)]

Haha, welcome to the club!

H

[RickS (Rick)]

Congrats on the first light, Mike!

[Andy01 (Andy)]

Congratulations Mike - an awesome start to widefield imaging with your new toys
The blues though, are they really that iridescent in the SMC?
I can't comare as I havn't imaged that area myself but your image sure has some vibrancy

Well done, can't wait to see what's on your target list!

[Stevec35 (Steve)]

A very nice first light Mike. The globular clusters look great but I'm a bit bothered about the SMC. It looks too iridescently blue to me and a bit flat. Interesting comment about the focus holding steady. You usually have to refocus my FSQ every 30 minutes or so. Takahashi must have done something to improve that.

Cheers

Steve

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Ha ha thanks for sharing in my child like glee guys and Andy yeah t'is pretty blue in the light of day , somewhat Tony Hallas like even huh? there are a few other bluish versions out there and I do like blue though was only a test image so no biggy

I just can't believe that the whole rig worked so perfectly so easily...I mean how the hell does this NJP handle such a massive load so well

Mike

[gregbradley]

That's a great first use. Its great when everything works straight away. A bit of a rare experience so savour it! Nice writeup, your excitement over this new scope is palpable.

Your NJP is an outstanding copy of the mount. Mine was good but I doubt it would've done that.

Greg.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

That's a great first use. Its great when everything works straight away. A bit of a rare experience so savour it! Nice writeup, your excitement over this new scope is palpable.

Your NJP is an outstanding copy of the mount. Mine was good but I doubt it would've done that.

Greg.

...must be the Italian in me?..passion

yeah I love this NJP it just can not be faultered...

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

That's huge ....great result.

Col...

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Stevec35

A very nice first light Mike. The globular clusters look great but I'm a bit bothered about the SMC. It looks too iridescently blue to me and a bit flat. Interesting comment about the focus holding steady. You usually have to refocus my FSQ every 30 minutes or so. Takahashi must have done something to improve that.

Cheers

Steve

Yeah I know Steve, you are probably right, the colour wasn't reeeeally the point here though, it was just a first light and hey, I like blue ...few other blue versions out there though.

Yes, I was surprised to see the focus hold so well too, I collected LRGB, in that order and only had to refocus when the green started and only two presses of the Robo focus buttons. Anyway time will tell, maybe I was just over excited and it will all fall in a heap...

[SimmoW (SIMON)]

Yep, that's TAK sharp right! Great to see your first light come so easily, mine's been a beatch but worth all the effort, and learning heaps along the way

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by SimmoW

Yep, that's TAK sharp right! Great to see your first light come so easily, mine's been a beatch but worth all the effort, and learning heaps along the way

Cheers Simon, yes I feel blessed that my rig is so reliable and easy to use...even if it is a challenge to duck and weave around inside the dome in the dark, to keep my bulky frame from hitting anything

Mike

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Awesome news Mike, thank you for sharing.

Yes, it is rare to read that everything goes so smoothly right out of the box, so it is a double pleasure to read your post

[batema (Mark)]

Magnificent first light Mike. You must be so excited. Can't wait for the images to come.

Mark

[leon]

Great image indeed, and what a Scope, been there,

Leon

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
it's a good idea to have 2 telescopes on one mount -
you can get 2 pictures at the same time!

From now on we'll all expect a wide field and a closeup when you post.

cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Slawomir

Awesome news Mike, thank you for sharing.

Yes, it is rare to read that everything goes so smoothly right out of the box, so it is a double pleasure to read your post

Cheers Suavi, I have to say although the setup worked well straight up, there had been a few delays with order problems and I had some trepidation on how it would all work, not to mention the long wait for the finances to come to fuition just to buy the damn thing! Would I be bitterly disappointed or would I have lots of connection issues or what if, what if.....? so, as Greg said, the relief was indeed palpable

Originally Posted by batema

Magnificent first light Mike. You must be so excited. Can't wait for the images to come.

Mark

Thanks so much Mark, me too

Originally Posted by leon

Great image indeed, and what a Scope, been there,

Leon

Thanks Leon

Originally Posted by alpal

Hi Mike,
it's a good idea to have 2 telescopes on one mount -
you can get 2 pictures at the same time!

From now on we'll all expect a wide field and a closeup when you post.

cheers
Allan

Huh! I can't actually do that, the two scopes are as wide as the shutter opening, I would be turning the dome every few minutes ...unless I get dome automation...