The Golden Prawn - with AG12 - Page 2

Doomsayer · #21 10-05-2011, 05:58 PM

really promising Mike - I had little success on the same night in newcastle at shorter FL - seeing was pretty ordinary so that makes your image even better. Very tantalising prospect to go deep with ths rig as you say. I'd imagine getting an OAG in the train is not plug and play. Another pair of special adapters on the way I guess.....

as said elsewhere, the MMOAG is a good one to consider. very solid.

guy

strongmanmike (Michael) · #22 10-05-2011, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjastro

Very fine image Mike.

Steven

Thanks Steve ...there is better yet in her I am sure

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

I wonder if there is a way to tell if you need to space it further out or closer in? Perhaps CCD Inspector
Greg

My thoughts exactly...some emails will go out

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomsayer

really promising Mike - I had little success on the same night in newcastle at shorter FL - seeing was pretty ordinary so that makes your image even better. Very tantalising prospect to go deep with ths rig as you say. I'd imagine getting an OAG in the train is not plug and play. Another pair of special adapters on the way I guess.....

as said elsewhere, the MMOAG is a good one to consider. very solid.

guy

Hey thanks Guy, so far things are on track at least

...had I not had the perfect correction of the Starfire drilled into my brain I would probably be over the moon with these stars

, they aren't bad but obvuiously when it is sorted they can only be better

Sorry to hear you ahd bad weather your way or did you mean you had probs with the gear?

Mike

Doomsayer · #23 10-05-2011, 06:20 PM

No gear issues here - the FSQ rig is fine - just persistent thin cloud. Better than the more normal rain or cloud on the coast we seem to suffer most of the time. Hence my RC will hopefully be on line soon in darker skies with better weather. I use an ST402 and an e-finder with the FSQ. Maybe you could consider something like an e-finder, rather than an OAG, as an e-finder will cope with 2m FL guiding no problem with the NJP.

Peter Ward · #24 10-05-2011, 06:40 PM

Very nice image! ....my guess is it will have a $15 entry fee attached to it

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #25 10-05-2011, 06:42 PM

Love the details in the image Mike although the colouring isn't up my ally. 12"s of love really has its place in my heart though

. As for OAG, it will be the best thing you ever invest your $$$ in the difference is unbelievable! to say the least.

I Just finished making my 3" version that screws directly into the draw tube of the 3" FT and my images went from wobbly stars to perfect guiding instantly and of all things a lowly EQ6. I have some comparisons of Guide scope to OAG on my blog if you scroll down, plus there is images of the process though making it. Good luck!

Bassnut (Fred) · #26 10-05-2011, 06:47 PM

Excellent Mike. Tight as and very detailed.
Do homework on OAG, cant see you need it based on this pic. The MOAG takes 50mm , seems you have 79mm back focus to the image plane total. OAG is a pain without a rotator. All looking a bit difficult IMO.

bokglob (Darrell) · #27 10-05-2011, 07:01 PM

Thats impressive narrowband considering your exposure time and short subs. Looking forward to seeing what you can achieve with this new setup you've got

avandonk · #28 10-05-2011, 07:11 PM

I would be working out a way to control the anti dew heating of your optics. A very good thermostat or PID that only allowed heating to a few degrees above ambient would be a start. The differential cooling/heating of the metal and glass in the last part of the optic train with ambient temperature fluctuations would make adjusting spacing a nightmare. You are forever chasing a changing configuration. Fast optics come with a price! I would go for a thermostatically controlled temperature using a PID (proportional integral differential) controller. Air currents due to convection in the last part of the optical train are not as critical to aberration. Multi element correctors and spacers will come to equilibrium with constant temperature.

Just a few thoughts Mike. I am not as mad as you think. It would be a set and forget as the conditions are under your control. Not driven by the vagaries of ambient temperatures and all the hystereses that hides the real cause. Have a yarn to the manufacturers as they just do not realize what huge temperature fluctuations we experience here in Australia.

I will not comment on your image as it is not too bad for a beginner with a new optic.

Bert

Octane (Humayun) · #29 10-05-2011, 07:12 PM

Dribble.

Superb image, man. And, for such short exposure duration, too. I guess we have to bear in mind that it is an insanely fast scope, too.

Looking forward to more from this winning combination.

H

atalas · #30 10-05-2011, 07:13 PM

Yep looks great Mike.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #31 10-05-2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomsayer

No gear issues here - the FSQ rig is fine - just persistent thin cloud. Better than the more normal rain or cloud on the coast we seem to suffer most of the time. Hence my RC will hopefully be on line soon in darker skies with better weather. I use an ST402 and an e-finder with the FSQ. Maybe you could consider something like an e-finder, rather than an OAG, as an e-finder will cope with 2m FL guiding no problem with the NJP.

I am (temporarily) set up in New Lambton now and yes the thin cloud started to disipate as midnight approached so I went for it .What is most pleasing is that I was able to get a multi filter image down that went this deep, in the space of just 4 or 5 hours including flats and flat darks for every filter and even a meridian flip in the middle. This was the leap I wanted over the beautiful Starfire

An e-finder huh?..hmmm? Tom Davis seems to think it is quite good for his AP 12" F3.8 for at least 10min exposures

...of course the OAG should allow indefinite exposures...ahhh decisions decisions...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Very nice image! ....my guess is it will have a $15 entry fee attached to it

Thanks Peter..?...I dunno, David probably won't like it...at $15 a pop one must choose wisely

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

Love the details in the image Mike although the colouring isn't up my ally. 12"s of love really has its place in my heart though

. As for OAG, it will be the best thing you ever invest your $$$ in the difference is unbelievable! to say the least.

I Just finished making my 3" version that screws directly into the draw tube of the 3" FT and my images went from wobbly stars to perfect guiding instantly and of all things a lowly EQ6. I have some comparisons of Guide scope to OAG on my blog if you scroll down, plus there is images of the process though making it. Good luck!

Glad you liked it Mr Mitchell, I'll check out your blog..but as Fred says below they can be a pain too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Excellent Mike. Tight as and very detailed.
Do homework on OAG, cant see you need it based on this pic. The MOAG takes 50mm , seems you have 79mm back focus to the image plane total. OAG is a pain without a rotator. All looking a bit difficult IMO.

Oh I need something, 5min was showing regular trailling, however when the two scopes pointed overhead it improved (sure sign of diff flex) look at how long the end of my silly guide scope is though, best at least improve there...deffinitely need to do something, I want to be able to do 15 - 20min subs but as you say, I will deffinitely do some homework, cheers

Mike

telemarker (Keith) · #32 10-05-2011, 07:34 PM

Hey Mike,
A grand colour scheme for a narrowband christening. Sweet

Obsequious Prawn was very forlorn
and didn't know what to do.
His reason to fret ?
He'd been caught in a net,
and was heading for somebody's stew!

I'll echo the comments of the others, it's looking good.

Regards
Keith

Star Catcher (Ted Dobosz) · #33 10-05-2011, 07:44 PM

whoa! Mike that is a great field and love the detail you've captured with the scope

Ted

Paul Haese · #34 10-05-2011, 07:45 PM

Mike just looking at the star images all are pointing towards the center and I think these are all pretty much the same length. That means that collimation is less of an issue (maybe just a really really small tad if anything at all) and being pointed to center it is pretty certain that field curvature is the culprit there. I spent a heap of time on this very issue a year or so ago now. Learnt what to recognise. I guess you can narrow it all done if you want but I think going straight to the spacing will do something more for your stars. Just my opinion. I am sure you will nut it out. Let me know though once you find the culprit.

Bassnut (Fred) · #35 10-05-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Oh I need something, 5min was showing regular trailling, however when the two scopes pointed overhead it improved (sure sign of diff flex) look at how long the end of my silly guide scope is though, best at least improve there...deffinitely need to do something, I want to be able to do 15 - 20min subs but as you say, I will deffinitely do some homework, cheers

Mike

Ive banged on long and hard about guider stiffness, that maybe the key, makes ALL the difference. Anyway, PM me if you have backfocus limitations that make OAG impracticle.

h0ughy (David) · #36 10-05-2011, 08:15 PM

Nice tiddler Mike - i take it you will be out tonight moon and all as it is clear in newcastle tonight..........

avandonk · #37 10-05-2011, 08:51 PM

Bolt a lightweight Mak to the scope at the rear Mike as a guidescope. The short configuration of the Mak will minimise 'flexure' with orientation.

Bert

strongmanmike (Michael) · #38 10-05-2011, 10:54 PM

Thanks for the advice Fred, Bert and Paul appreciate the feedback and ideas

Thanks also Keith and Ted, nice poetry Keith

Dave, I am about to go to bed, yes it is clear but I have been up late two nights in a row processing the Prawn

..so I am a bit tired, Thursday is looking good so fingers crossed I can get out and get another take-away instant deep image

Mike

strongmanmike (Michael) · #39 10-05-2011, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

Dribble.

Superb image, man. And, for such short exposure duration, too. I guess we have to bear in mind that it is an insanely fast scope, too.

Looking forward to more from this winning combination.

H

Quote:

Originally Posted by atalas

Yep looks great Mike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bokglob

Thats impressive narrowband considering your exposure time and short subs. Looking forward to seeing what you can achieve with this new setup you've got

Cheers Humi Darell and Big Louie, glad you liked the scene

Yes the aperture and speed were exactly why I went this OTA route ...once I have the field flattness/stars perfectly sorted and the guiding under control the sky will literally be the limit

Mike

alan meehan (Alan) · #40 10-05-2011, 11:42 PM

Just beautifull Mike really sharp and lots dust,love it
AL