Theta 1 Ori, Multiple Star System (Trapezium)

[Dennis]

Hi

Here is my first Trapezium of the season! The attempt was ludicrous as I had the x5 Televue Powermate plugged into the C9.25 giving a focal length of 11.75 metres, using the SBIG ST7E ccd camera at it’s top speed setting of 0.01 sec. The photon count was around 570, whereas the saturation level is 65,536.

The final image is a stack of 15 sub frames aligned and stacked in MIRA AP with some very strong deconvolution in Maxim DL. I later discovered that the C9.25 collimation was way out, so the 6th star (F) was lost in the comatic glare of component C.

Theta 1 Ori, Multiple Star System, Magnitude: 5.13

AC: 5.13+6.35 mag, Sep 12.87"
CD: 5.13+7.2 mag, Sep 13.12"
AE: 6.35+11.1 mag, Sep 4.10"
CF: 5.13+11.5 mag, Sep 4.00"

Cheers

Dennis

[iceman (Mike)]

11.75 metres!? Wow that's some FL!

Nice work Dennis, looking forward to more Orion work from you in the coming months.

[Ric]

Nice image Dennis, I have never thought about imaging binary's and multiple star systems. I have to give that a go myself.

cheers

[Dennis]

Thanks guys. I think the imaging train of the JMI motofocus, Meade 647 flip mirror, x5 Powermate and ST7E may produce too much flexure for hi res imaging. The 647 couples with the JMI via a 2” push fit held by 2 grub screws> Then the ST7E with a 1.25" adapter slides into the Powermate and is only held by a single grub screw - not ideal.

Cheers

Dennis

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Wow! sub arc sec resolution there big D!

Mike