First light for new 12" GS Dob

shaggy · #1 09-12-2005, 11:34 PM

Oh what a day!

Ordered the new 12" GS Dob from Andrews yesterday and received the package at home in Brissie today. Gotta love being back in the city again (I've only just moved back from NT; spent quite a few nights out observing with gaa_ian.)

Anyway, scopes togeather in record time and bunged through a quick collimation and setup on the front yard. The wife and kids have gone out to do the Christmassy lights with her mother; things can't get much better to start the evening.

First light was on the moon - beautiful sharp views. Man this is looking good.
Zoomed across to Mars and had a look with a variety of mags. The rough collimation is showing, but still get some brilliant views of mars and obvious surface features showing nicely.

Next was to get another bourban

and setup all the anti-mossie stuff. This mozzie plague here is (almost) worse than Gove! Geez, just can't escape them at the moment, but at least we can swim without worrying about crocs!

Enough diversionary tales! On with the show!

Well, with Orion now showing nicely in the sky there was no resisting. The results was staggering! Just how good can it get to finally see colour in nebulae!

The nebulae was an aqua marine colour (blue/green colour). I would assume a slightly bigger scope would be needed to pickup any red, but it may improve with better collimation. I was suprised the colour persisted, even when down to a 5mm eyepiece, but definitely best viewed with the 17mm plossel. Hmmm, gotta start looking at some widefield 2" eyepieces

This is why I bought the 12" and its was so mind blowing. I can't wait to get to a dark site and full horizon and check out all other DSO's.

Tomorrows plan is to mod up the sliders, maybe casters (or trolly) for the scope and handles. Probably also change the eyepiece holder and make a dew cover and eyepiece warmer to retard dew on the eyepieces. Probably also setup a low-level red led on it as well to see the eyepieces a bit clearer.

The only problem with the scope is the finderscope adjustments will not move around enough to align with the OTA. Something that will need to be investigated tomorrow in the daylight hours.

Cya,
Shauno

gaa_ian (Ian) · #2 09-12-2005, 11:49 PM

Onya Shaun, welcome to the GSO Dob club.

Sounds like you have been having a ball !
Just a few "sucker holes" here at the moment, so Im not going to drag the scope out tonite

Good to see you back on IIS, as you know most of the Dob mod's you can think of have been dreamed up here.
I look forward to hearing more observing reports

Stu · #3 09-12-2005, 11:55 PM

Sounds awesome. Did you get the crayford?

shaggy · #4 10-12-2005, 01:02 AM

Yeah, got the crayford. Definitely a lot smoother and easier to get the focus right than my old telescope.

gaa_ian (Ian) · #5 10-12-2005, 01:18 AM

Managed to get some clear sky here too

Been take a trip along the Lunar Appenines, Alpine valley and more.
Also got a look at Mars & Orion !
Time for

now, bye !

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 10-12-2005, 01:24 AM

Onya Shagster!!!! Another GS 12" Deluxe Dobbie in here!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, doesn't the colour in Orion Neb blow you away! If you stare at it long enough (about 5 mins) you will notice the pink! Gotta train the eye to know what to look for.

You are gonna love Galaxies through that monster. I use 2" EP's to spot them (easily) and then change EP's for a close up. Coooooool!

You have definately bought the best telescope in the world! (until the GS 16" comes out in March)

Enjoy!

astro_south (Andrew) · #7 10-12-2005, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaggy

Oh what a day!
The nebulae was an aqua marine colour (blue/green colour). I would assume a slightly bigger scope would be needed to pickup any red, but it may improve with better collimation.

Shaun,

What part of Brisbane were you observing from? You will have to escape most of the city lights to help in picking up the "ruddy pink" colour in the Orion nebula. You certainly have the aperture to do it.

Oh - welcome to Brisvegas. I will keep you updated on any observing get togethers we may organise if you wish. At the very least we will have to meet up the next time Ian makes a trip down here!

davidpretorius · #8 10-12-2005, 03:55 AM

well done fellow dobber, even if you have a bigger one than me!!! hee hee

someone's excited!!!

shaggy · #9 10-12-2005, 09:29 AM

Hi Andrew,
I'm in Aspley but hope to get a chance to go out to the next BAS public field night or members night at their darksite so I can put the scope through its paces.

Cya,
Shauno

janoskiss (Steve H) · #10 10-12-2005, 10:27 AM

Thanks for your first light account. I enjoyed reading it. Sounds like you bought the right scope.

chunkylad (David) · #11 10-12-2005, 11:30 AM

Good onya Shaggy!

Congrats on your purchase. The GS 12" is truly a great 'scope

.

2" widefield eps present really stunning views.

Did you get the right angled finder with your ota? I have the r/a finder and Rigel quickfinder. This combo makes starhopping a pleasure

Cheers
Dave

janoskiss (Steve H) · #12 10-12-2005, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaggy

The only problem with the scope is the finderscope adjustments will not move around enough to align with the OTA. Something that will need to be investigated tomorrow in the daylight hours.

This happens occasionally on my Dob too. Just pull the finder out of its mount and push it back in. Maybe give it 1/4 turn. It will come good.

ving (David) · #13 10-12-2005, 05:05 PM

kewl shaggy

glad to hear you are enjoying your new scope

the best cope in for you, as they say, is the scope that gets used

rmcpb (Rob) · #14 10-12-2005, 10:24 PM

Great scope and report Shaggy. Look forward to your first report from a dark site

shaggy · #15 10-12-2005, 10:59 PM

Hi All,
Thanks to all for the encouraging remarks!

I have fixed the problem with the finderscope. The slot that holds the finder assembly was held in with two screws so I just adjusted that around enough that the finder scope sitting in the middle of the holder should be pretty much aligned. Only minor adjustments after that to get it spot on. With the R/A adapter it makes it so much easier to get the object into the field of view first go instead of spiral searching for the bloom'n thing!

I'll still buy a telrad in the near future as I think they are an indispensable part of dob life, but I may investigate the rigel quickfinder as I have not yet sure what they do. Google will fix that in a few moments!

Hey Rob! I have to have a chat to you one day about your collapsible dob wedge your making - sounds most intriguing!

Cheers all!
Shaunou

rmcpb (Rob) · #16 12-12-2005, 08:25 AM

Shagster,

The mount is coming on well but getting the collapsible part right so it is quick to set up and pull down while retaining the strength of the mount is the hard bit that has me going at present.

When it is finished I will be posting a report on the site for all.

Cheers