floastro

Hi all, First lights with my new TS Carbon Truss Tube RC 10" Special Series f/6.4 from Teleskop Service ( https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p13981_TS-Optics-10--f-6-4-RC-Telescope-with-Corrector---Carbon-Truss-Tube.html). This is my first shots, about 5hrs, with an OIII filter on M27. I wait more nights to continue it. - TS Carbon Truss Tube Ritchey-Chretien 10" (254mm) Special Series f/6.4 (1625mm) - SW EQ8-RH Pro mount - ZWO ASI2600MM & new ZWO 7x36mm filter wheel - Scope guiding : SW EVOSTAR 72ED + ZWO 120MM Mini - Astronomik OIII 6nm - 61exp. x 300sec (Gain=100) -NINA 2.2 x64 / GS Server 1.57 / PHD2 2.6.11Dev6 / ASTAP + New D50 star catalog. Pre-processing : PixInsight 1.8.9-1 Ripley Processing : PixInsight 1.8.9-1 Ripley / GraXpert / PhotoShop CS6 & AFFINITY Photo 2.1.1 Link for the image with more resolution here : http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/Fichiers_Divers/masterLight_BIN-1_6248x4176_EXPOSURE-300_4.jpg Florent 😊

For the fun, this is the Starless version of my image. The FULL here : http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/Fichiers_Divers/M81_M82_LRGB3_StarColor_DBE5_moreSat2_STARLESS.jpg Florent

Hi Guys, This is my new finalized image taken with my new SW EQ8-RH PRO mount. I've taken a 3.9° x 3.9° widefield on the M81 & M82 area showing the IFN background clouds with galaxies. Material and acquisitions details below : FULL size image here : http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/Fichiers_Divers/M81_M82_LRGB3_StarColor_DBE.jpg Enjoy ! Florent 😉

Hi all, After several weeks with bad weather, this is the first graph into PHD2 2.6.9 Dev4 using the Multi-Star Guiding. The material used was my ASA 12" f/3.62, EQ8-RH Pro, SW Evostar 72ED + ASI120MM Mini for guiding, Moravian G4-16000. NINA 1.10 HF1 /ASTAP / PHD2 2.6.9 Dev4 An this is one FITS not pre-processed of 600sec in Full size : http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/Fichiers_Divers/LUM_600sNGC_4258_DBE2_DxO3_3-Modifier3.jpg Florent

No problem. I'll keep you posted after the second night. The weather is bad for several days. I wait for better weather conditions. Florent

Hi all, On August 14th, i received my new mount from my french dealer Pierro Astro. Pierro Astro is one the only dealer in France to realize a free test + optimization + adjusting of your mount you purchase him. He delivers a complete report in the package with all the procedures realized on it. After 2 weeks in its hardcase, the mount has been installed in my backyard after a preparation of my observation spot. The mount will stay outside and with all protection against the weather. One week ago, i tested my new mount with one of my 2 CCD setup. The setup was my ASA 12" f/3.62 newtonian OTA modified with the OPTEC TCF LEO Split-Clamp Low Profile focuser + the SW EVOSTAR 72ED guide scope + my Moravian G4-16000 CCD camera + my ZWO ASI120MM Mini guide camera. I tested the setup with N.I.N.A 1.10 software and GS Server (Eqmod alternative). No problem. About the guiding, the first part of the night was not good because the PHD2 adjustments were not correct. After adjustments the guiding was very good at the end with low curves. A second night will be necessary to confirm that and i will post you my results obtained. For this second night, i will try to use the new USB HUB on the EQ8-RH to avoid to have cables get down. The silver counterweight is a Geoptik of 5kgs. All the main outside screws on the head and on the tripod have been replaced with INOX A4 screws : Stay tune........... Florent 😉

Thanks for your comment 😉

Hi all, This is my first complete LRGB image taken with my ASA 12" newtonian reflector and my Moravian G4-16000 CCD camera. I equiped my ASA with a low profile focuser, an OPTEC TCF LEO Split-Clamp. It has replaced the native ASA OK3-Z focuser who had a lot of mechanical problems. The LEO is strong and stable with the large 16803 sensor. I took 6 nights of exposures on the NGC4725 galactic field. All the information are in the dashbord. I give the link for the Full Resolution image too. FULL RESOLUTION image here : http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/Fichiers_Divers/LRGB_NGC4725_R1G1B1_2_DBE_DBE_DBE_Spikes4-Modifier-Modifier2.jpg Enjoy ! Florent 😉

Hi guys, This summer, i have the project to have a permanent mount in my backyard. My instrumentation is one ASA 12" f/3.62 (1086mm) carbon newtonian OTA with a Moravian G4-16000 (KAF-16803) CCD imaging train + one SW EVOSTAR 72ED guiding refractor. I would like to know your opinions about the quality of these 2 mounts for long exposurses, guiding, manufacturing quality, resistance of materials to humidity (screws, different parts of the mount.....etc), mounting with a Losmandy DUP..................etc. My choice will be for one SW EQ8-R or EQ8-RH (with RA encoder) or for one iOptron CEM120 or CEM120EC. And is it better to choice the standard version vs encoder version for these mounts, especially for the iOptron CEM120 ? Thanks. Regards, Florent

Hi Martin, My ASA 12" is from year 2007. The native focuser was a JMI NGF xTn 3" replaced with an ASA OK3-Z. My OK3-Z was catastrophic. The OPTEC LEO is an incredible focuser for imaging. Florent

Hi guys, After my TeleVue NP101is ( http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/photo-equipment3.html ), i decided to change the focuser of my ASA 12" newtonian reflector. The native focuser was the ASA OK3-Z for heavy imaging train. But i had several big problems with it, mechanical problems, impossible to do automatic focusing, backlash..... etc. It was impossible to me to use the huge KAF-16803 chip of my Moravian G4-16000. And with the mechanical problems, i had a shifting of my imaging train inside the OK3-Z focuser and the CCD chip was not aligned with the optics even if my collimation was great with the CATSEYE kit. After several nights of tests and when i found the real problem, i decided to change the focuser by a high-end focuser : a low profile focuser. 2 choices : one FLI ATLAS as on my TeleVue but very expensive or the new low profile focuser on the market released by OPTEC, the TCF LEO. The LEO specifications are the same that the FLI except for the price, the LEO is 50% cheaper. After a few mails with Jeff from OPTEC, i ordered their last version, the Split-Clamp, of the LEO designed for heavy Wynne 3" corrector for newtonian. I calculated the effective length for the adapter installed between the ASA OTA and the LEO focuser. The adapter has been made by Precise Parts in Florida. The last weekend, with the Full Moon, i installed and tested the OPTEC TCF LEO on the ASA 12"N f/3.62 . All is OK now with a high precision Auto focusing. I can use my 16803 chip now on my newtonian. A few images of the mounting : This is a test of 300sec of subexposure taken with the G4-16000 CCD camera / ASA 12"N f/3.62 with its ASA 3" Wynne corrector / OPTEC TCF LEO. Full 4K x 4K image, no cropped : http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/Fichiers_Divers/t_NGC7000_RED_[2019_09_14]-001.jpg Florent 🙂