Eagleview Observatory - Construction of Australia's Highest Observatory

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Leo.G

What telescope are you imaging through Mike?
I'm curious because reducing pixel size through longer focal length telescopes isn't supposed to be a good thing but, I DON'T know, just heard through longer focal length larger pixels are the best.
Brand new CCD camera?
I thought they were extremely rare now (as in no longer produced) and was directed to a story online by my son where the last of a certain CCD auctioned at a very princely sum after going through a STUPID process of trying to replace a CCD from an old camera with a new CCD and nearly fainted when I got the price.

The process of simply swapping out the camera without making any changes sounds like a great outcome for you!

Hi Leo, my scope is a 12" F3.8 corrected Newt, 1120mm FL.

In perhaps an ideal World, for high resolution imaging, yes, I would get a longer FL scope (eg. 16/17" RC/CDK) and use a larger pixel Camera, (which I do have, a FLI PL16803) to achieve the finer image scale buuuuut that would have been a far more expensive route and then the slower scope too of course..buuut bigger aperture, so many factors. In the end though, image scale is image scale and I expect I will see a modest improvement in fine details captured regardless

Mike

[Leo.G (Leo)]

I'm not doubting the fact you are going to get amazing images I just get confused after loading my brain up with full well and everything else astro-cam related a few years back when I wanted to buy a new 294mm from Bintel they didn't have in stock. They didn't even contact me when they came in (I wasn't just buying the camera) and I ended up putting my win ($3,800 Oz lotto) into a used D810 for myself, a new Samsung S8 tablet for my son for his birthday and a new Lenovo two in one (tablet/laptop) for my son for Christmas (I'd rather spend money on my son) and had some nasty words with Bintel. They never got back to me and I've since long forgotten everything I read about cameras or ever getting a somewhat semi mid spec camera. I did pick up a Player One Neptune colour camera near new on here cheap, that and my D810 will suffice.
I've long forgotten everything I learnt except larger pixels are better for my longer focal length refractor (Achromat 152mm 1200mm Skywatcher with minimal CA), that never happened when I was younger, I formerly had an eidetic memory, now I can't even remember what that means. Haha.

[AlexN]

Isn't it strange how quickly people will push CCD's aside as if they are no longer relevant, forgetting how MANY of the best images ever produced (to date) were produced with CCD's, prior to AI based sharpening and noise reduction techniques..

I'd love to put a KAF16803 or 16200 camera into my big APO... I reckon that would be the absolute best setup... There isn't a CMOS sensor to my knowledge that would provide the same specs as the 16803, and I would guarantee that with darks, the 16803 would be as clean as any of the current CMOS cameras.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Leo.G

when I was younger, I formerly had an eidetic memory, now I can't even remember what that means. Haha.

We tend to lose eidetic abilities once we hit adult hood

Originally Posted by AlexN

Isn't it strange how quickly people will push CCD's aside as if they are no longer relevant, forgetting how MANY of the best images ever produced (to date) were produced with CCD's, prior to AI based sharpening and noise reduction techniques..

I'd love to put a KAF16803 or 16200 camera into my big APO... I reckon that would be the absolute best setup... There isn't a CMOS sensor to my knowledge that would provide the same specs as the 16803, and I would guarantee that with darks, the 16803 would be as clean as any of the current CMOS cameras.

I must fire up the PL16803 again soon, it hasn't collected any photons since 15 May 2021 and the last completed image with it, was way back in Feb 2021

Mike

[AlexN]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I must fire up the PL16803 again soon, it hasn't collected any photons since 15 May 2021 and the last completed image with it, was way back in Feb 2021

Mike

Rubbish image, rubbish old CCD tech... you should toss it in the bin (my hands) and just be done with it...

Also.... WOW
Id forgotten just how extreme the FSQ106 + 16803 field is! 4°x4° - what a show! haha

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by AlexN

Rubbish image, rubbish old CCD tech... you should toss it in the bin (my hands) and just be done with it...

Also.... WOW
Id forgotten just how extreme the FSQ106 + 16803 field is! 4°x4° - what a show! haha

But a coarse 3.5"/pix image scale....still, pretty useable and certainly well above any seeing I get, so never affected by that at least

Mike