Star101

Yeah, Thanks Olly. 😛 I need to do a lot more searching. I've been looking for some images from any large RC and I cannot find many. The lack of such images and the abundance of images taken by Refractors also tells me a lot!! One thing I know. What ever I decide to purchase. The moment it arrives, I will rush to set up and before sundown the clouds will roll in....And stay for many weeks...no.., many months to come lol.

My reason for this thread is due to looking for a better scope to help capture the smaller distant galaxies that don't get much attention. Talking it through, its looking like the UK is not the best place to do this....but then again, the UK is not the best place for AP anyway. So, it is what it is! lol. I'm still on the fence, trying to find the best solution. I have scopes and cameras, so its not urgent. I am still looking at mid August to purchase a new scope and probably a new camera to go with it. Olly and others have put a good case up for why I should chose an APO. But I still like the idea of a 16" CR Truss.

Yes, I am fine with this. I built a Obsy a couple of years ago. Im just starting to get frustrated with the C11. Its not the C11's fault. I prefer to think Its me progressing

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/celestron-edgehd-1100-optical-tube-assembly.html https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/takahashi-toa-150b-f73-triplet-ortho-apochromat-refractor-ota-package.html I did agree with the images but then, on checking the scopes, the prices don't compare. I am looking at something of value between the two.

A holiday? I have heard that Sweden is not in Lock Down, unlike the UK. They have even closed the parks. As I said at the beginning of this thread, its my Birthday in August. We looked at going to Japan for the Olympics as I used to practice/teach Karate and this year Karate was going to be entered as a new item. But, as we all know, its all on hold until further notice. I have kept my holiday request for a month off work....Looks like it will be in the garden. At least I can turn my phone off

I have to agree with you both on this one. To me the TOA looks sharper. The Edge image looks softer. Not sure if that is the processing or the scope. ...For this case I think I have to accept its the scope. And I know Olly, your processing skills are on par with the best. If you say there is a green tinge, I take it as gospel.

That is one gorgeous piece of imaging hardware. I will need a bigger hard drive too

I can see my aspirations for the RC16 dwindling away and maybe a TEC140 or similar racing to the front. Yes Olly, a great image of M51 Dave

Thats not bad at all. You even got the wispy arm at 8 o'clock

Very nice. Yes, I do like the colours.

Am I correct in thinking the 16"RC needs a camera with something like a 9um pixel size, KAF-16803 chip? From http://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/ The FOV changes to make it, as you say, not enviable, from the UK. Matching camera as close as possible to scope. Yes, one gets excellent images but the subject is far away. Use a smaller pixel and unless seeing is excellent, the image wont win any awards as the pixel ratio will be too small.!

I also agree on the - not the same - Having my own ror shed with scope, I found myself tinkering and imaging at home and not putting time away for remote imaging. So much so, I've accumulated quite a lot in imaging time credit. I have suspended my account for now. But hey, Astro Dark is becoming limited here...So...remote is still a, nice to have, option :)

I am steadily considering my options. Even if I did jump in and buy that Starfire, you do realise there are TWO for sale? 😮 Cambridge and Argyll !! Having been to Olly's, I have first hand knowledge of what a great setup he has. with his TEC140 APO on a Mesu. I know my C11 could never compete with that! So, I may be looking at something around the 130/140mm APO. I am currently trying to get my head around seeing, FL and Pixels limitations.

Very nice Brian. I was wondering how you got such good data from so few subs...Now I know ! Yeah, I agree on remote imaging. I used a iTelescope setup that I priced up at around £50k. Way out of my price bracket lol. But fun to use

Looks like drift or dithering. If one looks closer, there are several such white, red green blues all over the image. Calibrating out with Darks etc will remove them

Yes, SpaceX has been impressive. It would be even more so if this happens. Lets hope it does and it all goes as clockwork.

Thanks Olly, Yes, my seeing has only been excellent twice this winter. My idea was to have something with long enough FL to get closer to all those small galaxies that abound the sky. Thanks Whirlwind, for a great read and more things to think about. Thanks kirkster501, and yes, that scope is looking much more interesting having read Olly's tuppence worth. Thanks for your thoughts. I can see I need to rethink this.

Sorry to hear of your dilemma. As NGC 1502 says, Its OK to separate the scope to get inside but don't take the lens apart. I tried this with one of my eyepieces...I mean, how difficult can it be!! Needless to say, the eyepiece was ruined. It was only three elements, It just never went back as snug as before. And I do know how to take stuff apart an refit...Just somethings should be left to the experts with the proper tools and environment. Good luck with trying NGC 1502 suggestion. Let us know the outcome!

Just found this on my wanderings https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2020/04/17/launch-date-set-for-first-crew-flight-from-u-s-soil-since-2011/

Thats a great GIF. Mesmerizing 😶 Thanks for sharing.

The RC has three fans behind the primary mirror. It will mostly be for aesthetic imaging. While trying to keep that natural look.

Yeah, and that will be my next problem...Choosing a larger pixel, probably CCD, camera.....But one step at a time.

Yeah, my C11 is only the XLT and recently I have become very much aware of image quality. Where as before, I was just happy to get images Looking at some images from the RC are amazing. Round small stars from edge to edge. That's nigh impossible on the C11 XLT. Not to mention the mirror flop!

That's a great picture. I wish I had such clear southern views. Light pollution is not that bad there then I have a permanent ror setup but only a letter box sky view. One day I will move house lol. Dave.

3250mm