First Light LXD75 SN10

[oska (John)]

Next on my journey to try all the things is an LXD75 SN10. What a beastie. It definitely has a fairly steep learning curve. Evidently the collimation has a little way to go yet. Dew is a massive, um, consideration. I don't have a shield yet but if I run the dew heater at 100% from the start of the night it seems to keep up. I tried without a coma corrector just to see and one is definitely needed. I've had to break with tradition this time as Carina was too low by the time I got it together. I started guiding with the OAG but went to the 240mm and Sedna-m when Martin reminded us the ratio is about pixel scale not focal length.

about 4hrs total
LXD75 SN10 + G11 + NINA
ASI1600MM + Antlia 3nm SHO 300s 100g -10C
PI

Comments of all genders most welcome

[xelasnave]

Speaking as a male human I say that is a magnificent capture of the Lagoon Nebula John.

Well done.

Alex

[Bodon (Steve)]

Great Stuff! Gamer than I am. How did your guiding go? Id like to have a go with my 10" newt....dont trust the three screws on the small OAG. Guiding...ouch. Need a new set up for that...wife would cut them off....

[oska (John)]

Cheers Alex, um yeah The Lagoon

Thanks Steve, guiding on the OAG was iffy sometimes but mostly OK. I swapped mainly because I could. I only usually have OAG problems when there's a full moon or very poor seeing, bonuses for both. I hang a 1600mm, EFW8 and chonky coma corrector off it no problems. By design it can't come off if the screws are contacting the tabs properly and are good 'n snug. Even giving the whole assembly a snug up in situ, that joint never moves only the threaded connections.

[carlstronomy (Carl)]

John, you have done well with your SN10 very nice image

I have completed lots of upgrades on my SN10 and currently working on final collimation. It has been frustrating so I set it to the side for a while. Going to start working on it this weekend now the skies are getting better here in Brisbane again.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Nice work John. Did you use a coma corrector for this image? Welcome to the SN10 club!

[Dave882 (David)]

Beautiful image and fantastic resolution and colour!

[Doogs38 (Alex)]

Super detailed image and beautiful colours, John-San. I like the Mak-Newt (or Schmidt-Newt) mix and I nearly bought the SW 190MN because it has an excellent reputation as a reliable all-rounder. I'm guessing the LXD75 SN10 has a similar reputation. Btw, I see you are diligently working on our N+1 theory Alex (he/him)

[oska (John)]

Thanks Carl. I was the same, it has taken me a good while to even work out what was what. By comparison the F5 is pretty easy, as the wisdom dictates. I had the OCAL hanging off it for weeks, mainly due to slackness to be fair, but every time I had a go at it I got a bit further. Then was the wait for skies to test for reals.

Thanks Peter, I used a TS-GPU. I got comets without. I've got a soft spot for Meade and this has that old school NASA aesthetic (well a bit).

Thanks Dave, I'm trying to tone down the saturation, V keeps making fun of me.

Cheers Alex. I'm a fan too, it seems like such a good idea on paper and it was so reasonably priced I had to try it out even knowing it was going to be challenging. Technically it's N+2, I have a SN8 project in the cupboard too
(man/dude)

[AstroViking (Steve)]

Happy Friday, Oska!

That's a great image you've put up - super sharp in the details and a great palette of subtle colours. (And the saturation is spot-on! )

If that's an image without a coma corrector and suffering from dew issues and bad guiding and all the other excuses we make, then I cannot wait to see a "good" one.

Cheers,
V

[oska (John)]

Cheers V, Friday's games night! Desert Combat, old school. "AFK, just checking the scope".
During testing & setup I tried without the CC "just to see" and all the outer stars were very elongated. This was with the CC after I got collimation vaguely in the adjacent suburb. Can't seem to find the "without cc" example, I'll have a better look later.
I'm looking forward to giving it a good run on some clear nights

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Hi John. Any chance of a photo showing how the gpu sits in the focuser draw tube and also attachment to camera? I'm thinking about giving one a try but it seems to be quite long. Does it protrude into the OTA?

Also, how did you collimate your SN10?

Peter

[oska (John)]

Hi Peter, I've got a JMI focuser. The GPU sits flush with focuser tube and neither protrudes into the main tube when in focus. I'll get photos for you in the daylight.

For collimation I read the manual https://manualsbrain.com/en/manuals/1387484/?page=41 and this full setup guide http://www.weasner.com/lxd/techtips/..._Newtonian.pdf to get the general idea of what to expect. I then used an OCAL and a flat panel to do the basic setup. Then a star test. I did have to use an offset in OCAL and I've later read that is a problem so I will be redoing it including the final step with a cheshire which I impatiently skipped.

Cheers.

[carlstronomy (Carl)]

Collimation on my SN10 is terrible at the moment. I use both the manual and the Weasner tips and tricks. Since I had to change my gaskets nothing has worked for me. Round stars seem impossible to achieve.

I upgraded my focuser to the MoonLite version, I have heard the MJI is better.

I think the flimsy tube is probably the main issue with the SN10.

Too many wasted hours, thinking of just purchasing a nice 10" Newtonian and using my MPCC mark III on it.

Although when I did have it nicely dialled in I find the pain not worth the reward on these. Possibly why they have become a vintage rarity!

[oska (John)]

Peter: pix as promised

Carl: I feel ya. It's significantly more difficult to get control of. I would not have one as my only scope at my skill level, kudos to those that do. I was under the impression that Moonlite are better than JMI but I honestly I have no idea.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Thanks John. I'll take a look at one of those.