Well it is getting very small now. Even with the 2.5x it is just a pea. I need to get a 2x extension. Will that make it the same size as the 5x? Bird can you answer this question.
Anyway, I have the new scope with bobs knobs installed and of course collimated. I even checked afterwards and the collimation seems to be holding.
Seeing was around 5/10 and with the heat still being present, I only used the cooler for 5 minutes to get it to ambient.
Well it is getting very small now. Even with the 2.5x it is just a pea. I need to get a 2x extension. Will that make it the same size as the 5x? Bird can you answer this question.
Paul
Peter only time will tell whether it was a good decision to change. But at this stage it does a pretty good job in average seeing. Collimation will have to be worked on a lot to get it where I like it.
Rochler I am more than happy to help, whatever information I can give you and tutoring. We should make some time over the break to get together for an imaging session. I am sure Peter would be in on that.
Bird, judging the angle on that graph, using an extension on the 2.5 will actually make the image smaller. It seems like an extension will not work for it. Am I reading this right? I have even noted that putting the powermate before a diag has the same effect. Maybe if I put the diag in first?? What do you think? I know Chris Go uses both an extension and a diag to get his image scale. Do I need to buy a 4x powermate?
Houghy the new setup works really well, guiding is good, very little error in PE. But will need to do this over the break. Something that I really hate doing. In regard to getting the most out of my setup, I think I can do a lot more yet. Need to learn way more than I know now. A lot of the mathematics is lost on me. Just too lazy to go back and learn. I wll need to though, so that I can make an informed decision for my next camera.
Anyway thanks all. Saturn is next on the agenda and I want to iron out the bugs before I start in vain. I want to make a quantum leap with my imaging in this next year.
Paul, judging from the graph I think only the 5x powermate really increases with the use of an extension tube. The others seem to stay the same power or even lose power.
Anthony, yeah looks that way. The 5x is just too much magnification. With the 5x in I get 1958x; Mars is slightly larger than a 50 cent piece. The image gets really dull and I have to use 50% gain. Which produces heaps of grain and even with 500- 1000 frames stacked the result is a very poor image. Jupiter with the 5x is the size of a large grapefruit. With that much grain it is also very hard to focus. At least with the 2.5x the mag is only 978x. Bit of a problem. Might need to speak more to Chris Go about how he combats the problem. Long focal lengths are good, but there are limits.
Robert if you look at the graph, the 2.5 is only 2.5 at 0mm from the top glass. There is 40mm between the glass and the top of the compression ring. Then add 15mm for the CCD distance.
Yeah, I agree a 3.5 or 3x powermate would be perfect. It would give nice image scale. I suspect a lot of guys in the States are dooing resampling to achieve the image scale they get. Must write a little email to Al.
doh... no wonder I'm not getting anywhere with extension tubes on the 2.5X powermate, now I see this I remember seeing it before so feel doubly dopey!
