Thanks Colin , I actually got to use it for about 1/2 an hour on sunday morning and it works very well , just move the head a little side to side , to swap from 'white light' to 'Ha light' and back , so cool .
And the images in both scope's were almost dead centre of each eyepiece , so I must have made it well enough .
I can see this getting very addictive .
Brian.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlashDrive
Real nice Setup there Brian ... Photos are great ....
Went for the best mount I could afford, and a simple newtonian reflector to learn on. I'd been thinking about an EQ6 for a couple of years, and then when the AZ/EQ6GT was released, I couldn't wait any more. Hopefully this means about a decade before it is trumped by something else.
I've actually had clear sky's for 90% of the time since I got it two weeks ago (including the first night), so I've gotten some great use out of it. Have only been using it in Alt/Az mode so far, but hope to get into some astrophotography and give Equitorial mode a go too.
Now learning the mystic arts of collimation, have done some focuser maintenance and have made a couple of power mods.
Still sorting out the goto, but I've just learned that I've been choosing alignment stars that are outside the recommended range (prinicpally choosing Sirus - which is at an altitude above 60 degrees, which is not recommended, when I start out each night).
Lunt 102mm ED Doublet with SONY SLT A77v DSLR and remote cable
Skywatcher 80mm Achro for viewing
and hidden on the other side is my 50mm bino objective and SPS880 guide scope.
I've blacked out the background interior of the Ob to keep it looking tidy.
Well I could not help my self , I grabbed a LP 11-1 focuser from Andrews last thursday for $99 and it arrived today , and would you beileve it ! the LP is 90mm and the Vixen adaptor on the Istar 127mm is 90mm , a straight fit up ! , Cool .
Here is a photo , I am out tonight looking at the Moon and Jupiter , looking good to , in the Istar/Saxon .
Luna shot taken at 5pm local time , full daylight .
Brian.
One of the 1st photos of the new EQ6GT here at IIS, cool mate , hope these are as good as the run of the mill EQ6's and thanks for the shot Adam .
Brian.
Quote:
Originally Posted by adamcullen
My first scope.
Went for the best mount I could afford, and a simple newtonian reflector to learn on. I'd been thinking about an EQ6 for a couple of years, and then when the AZ/EQ6GT was released, I couldn't wait any more. Hopefully this means about a decade before it is trumped by something else.
I've actually had clear sky's for 90% of the time since I got it two weeks ago (including the first night), so I've gotten some great use out of it. Have only been using it in Alt/Az mode so far, but hope to get into some astrophotography and give Equitorial mode a go too.
Now learning the mystic arts of collimation, have done some focuser maintenance and have made a couple of power mods.
Still sorting out the goto, but I've just learned that I've been choosing alignment stars that are outside the recommended range (prinicpally choosing Sirus - which is at an altitude above 60 degrees, which is not recommended, when I start out each night).
I knew I had seen and used these LP focusers before , really nice to use .
Here is my old . now sold LP90mm f/.5.5 and Ed80 with GSO 10-1 , and these LP focusers are a whole lot better , but hey ?
$99 is a good price for a welll made 11-1 focuser .
Luna , Jupiter and Aldebaran , made a primo EQ triangle tonight ..
I like the new focuser.
Brian
Took me a while, but I had the rig out the other day getting everything set up and trialled for the first time in several months (can you believe QLD weather!!!), and remembered to take some shots with the phone.
Here is my Vixen FL102S "Photon Canon" Fitted with an Orion SSAG mini guider (which gives MUCH better results than the 80mm guidescope I previously used!). The right side finder is an Orion right angle/correct image one (YIK YIK YIK! - horrible finder, cheap build). Losmandy D plate at bottom, Vixen V plate top. Waiting for my Losmandy 90mm guidescope rings for on top of the rail (or hanging under the D, not decided yet). Note the Custom made stainless steel focuser knobs (Brian now has a set too) - beautiful job, knurled edges etc.
One of those VERY rare occasions when I set up visually, but I find GOTO alignment MUCH easier visually than using the CCD - at this stage anyway.
Skywatcher NEQ6 mount. Haven't used the EQMod YET, since I wanted to tr my new CCD first using a system I am comfortable with.
Mind the garbage in the background - my man cave The Man Cave the wife wants cleaned up... how sacrilegious is that!!!
I did just buy ANOTHER VC200L to keep her company and talking Japanese
Very nice looking rig Lewis. Seems like everyone who has had an FL102S raves about them. Should look better when the other Vixen gear comes through from Claude. Classy !
I tend to agree with your wife, clean that mess up!!!
New toy: a Ceravolo 300 Astrograph. Seen here on my Astro-Physics AP900 with an extra long counterweight shaft and 82 lbs of counterweights. The mount doesn't break a sweat, but I certainly did when I lifted the scope onto it. The guide scope is a 50mm Borg and the camera is an Apogee U16M. First light images are promising but it looks like I need to sort out some tilt before the corners of that big chip will be up to snuff.
New toy: a Ceravolo 300 Astrograph. Seen here on my Astro-Physics AP900 with an extra long counterweight shaft and 82 lbs of counterweights. The mount doesn't break a sweat, but I certainly did when I lifted the scope onto it. The guide scope is a 50mm Borg and the camera is an Apogee U16M. First light images are promising but it looks like I need to sort out some tilt before the corners of that big chip will be up to snuff.
Here is my new setup finally organised, after a huge re arrangement of cables and computer, it has come up quite nice and neat I think. GSO RC10 CF on the G-11, Moonlite focuser and ONAG.
Thanks Colin , I actually got to use it for about 1/2 an hour on sunday morning and it works very well , just move the head a little side to side , to swap from 'white light' to 'Ha light' and back , so cool .
.
Fitted with an Orion SSAG mini guider (which gives MUCH better results than the 80mm guidescope I previously used!). The right side finder is an Orion right angle/correct image one (YIK YIK YIK! - horrible finder, cheap build). Losmandy D plate at bottom, Vixen V plate top. Waiting for my Losmandy 90mm guidescope rings for on top of the rail (or hanging under the D, not decided yet). Note the Custom made stainless steel focuser knobs (Brian now has a set too) - beautiful job, knurled edges etc.
