Test. Unguided 15mins at 2400mm FL

Bassnut (Fred) · #1 08-07-2013, 05:37 PM

I installed my scope over the weekend at siding spring in the itelescope OBS. This is a rough test pic.

M75 Lum on a new STXL6303E camera, RCOS 10” OTA and PME.

The image is a single 15min sub (bin 2), darks applied and curved. Looks pretty clean, happy with that.

Its not a great pic, blown to hell, but the killer is, its 15min UNGUIDED at 2400mm FL !!!. PEC was OFF !.

Brad did a 300 point map for me and Protrac was on. He also tweaked the Tpoint terms. I have never had it set up this well before!

.

We got polar alignment within 30arcsecs, not great, but seems to be more than sufficient.

It was also unfocused, I forgot to, the OTA sat in my car for 6hrs driving up there since the last focus run. RCOS make em sturdie ;-).

Pete was also very helpfull and a great host

.

Im chuffed at how well the install went

looking forward to proper pics.

Cheers,
Fred

RobF (Rob) · #2 08-07-2013, 05:57 PM

Impressive. Is that the observatory you helped automate Fred?

Bassnut (Fred) · #3 08-07-2013, 06:20 PM

Yes, and thats working well too

Paul Haese · #4 08-07-2013, 06:51 PM

Where's the big frame Freddo? Can't tell anything from that little frame.

Seriously, though 15 minutes unguided without PEC and round stars is very cool.

Bassnut (Fred) · #5 08-07-2013, 07:18 PM

http://fredsastro.smugmug.com/Photog...DWzsn&lb=1&s=A

Paul Haese · #6 08-07-2013, 07:27 PM

Ken · #7 09-07-2013, 08:11 AM

Hi Fred, I can track for 5.5 seconds unguided

that is a great setup.
Clear skies Ken.

Bassnut (Fred) · #8 09-07-2013, 05:25 PM

yes well, not that I would not use guiding, but its handy to know its that stable. I dont know if unguided would be that good at all times and positions. Not being able to go longer than a few seconds unguided is not such a problem if guiding is good, but I find now I can use 10 or 20 sec guide exposures without a problem with the built in OAG guide chip (before the filters) that this new SBIG has, rather than needing to rotate the cam to find a bright guide star for standard 2sec guide exposures. I tried 40min subs last night, worked a treat.

The External STi guide cam with the pissy tiny lens kit is a supprise too, it works very well without the weight and flex of a large guide scope.