Nice shot Rumples! Might not be the forum, but does you LX200 have the mirror lock and microfocusser and do you find them a big help? The mirror flop on my Mewlon 210 isn't too bad, but it's real difficult to get critical planetary focus as you noticed on my last images.
cheers,
Robert
Robert; the Lx200 does have mirror lock but, I rarely use it for planetary imaging. I do use the micro focusor though and this is really a god send. Takes a lot of the frustration out of the exercise. One thing I do with the primary is I always wind clockwise onto focus. This is also the way I wind for collimation to. Does the Mewlon require collimation? Cant remember. Or is it fixed like the Mak?
Hi Rumples, the mewlon requires regular secondary collimation (bob's knobs are a godsend here) though the primary is fixed - it's verry sensitive to collimation but very nice when spot on. I'm wondering if the mirror movement/knob is reversed compared with the meade, as an experienced mewlon owner told me to always end on an anti-clockwise spin?
Nice shot Paul, I like the natural looking colour! Shows pretty much the exact face from my image.. I wonder how many amateur astronomers were staring at the same thing at the same time of night
Mike, I will bet there were more than a few just on this continent. As for the image I am reasonably happy with it but, tranparency let me down and I did not have the image bright enough. I usually aim for 130 in the meter but this was down near 112. I should have lifted the Gamma and dropped the gain a little. Would have been less grain and probably presented a grain free image that looked 3D rather than flat. Very frustrating.
Good stuff Paul likewise i like the colour , for some reason mine come out to orange but your shot looks very good , best of luck for the weekend {i hope i can get a go out Sytris major}