Flaming Star Nebulae(3 Scope imaging Rig)

[astro mick]

Well folks,this is my first attempt at running 3 scopes at the same time to image the same target.

The scopes are 2 Celestron ED80,s and a WO 66 Zenith Star.

The set-up involves 1 ED 80 fixed in standard Rings,while the other 2 scopes are in 3 point adjustment rings.

The ED 80,s are reduced in focal length to around F5,giving the same FOV as the WO 66 F6.

Initially it was a nightmare,to align these scopes,as you work blind with the 3 point rings.I was tearing my hair out,and it took me ages to get anywhere near. The WO 66 was the worst to do,because by the time you had the filter wheel and the camera on the scope,the overhang from the second adjustment ring was massive,and I had to much sag.As soon as I changed the filter in the wheel the alighnment was lost.

I,m sorry WO fans,but the focusser on this scope is rubbish.I ended up frabricating a clamp between my trusty ED 80 bog standard,beautifully stiff Rack and pinion focusser and the WO, to steady the Focusser and to support the overhang.

Anyway,my first image is of the Faint Nebulae IC405.

Red image is 18x600 secs at normal 1x1 mode.(MX916)

Green image is 20x600 secs at 2X2 Binned. (HX916)

Blue image is 20x600 secs at 2x2 Binned.(HX916)

HA image is 5x600 secs(Ran out of time here.so not enough data captured)(MX916).

The jury is still out on this,so I don't know.The system needs to remain reliable,and not consume too much time.

Any thoughts.

Cheers.

Mick.

[Horwig]

Nice first light on the rig, can I ask how you split the RGBHa between scopes?

Huw

[Gina]

Very pretty - nice image   Very interesting

[astro mick]

Thanks all.

Hew,i used the two ED80 scopes to image both the Green and Blue at the same time.Binned 2x2.

While they were busy,the WO scope was imaging the Red,this was at the scopes native F6.

The H-Alpha was blended into the red channel,but it needed a lot more data.

Mick.