Roy Foreman

25 minutes ago, WolfieGlos said:

Ive heard good things about the MN190, this gives me more reason to think perhaps I should have gone for one too, but would require a mount upgrade sadly. For such a short total time that’s really impressive! 

We did get the clear skies here last night, no showers but some cloud patches. Supposed to be again tonight 🤞

I too had heard good reports of the MN190 but was put off by it not being able to cover a full frame sensor.  I gather that current models have a larger secondary mirror, and when I saw a couple of images taken using full frame , that was the tipping point for me.

I don't know what mount you currently have, but the MN190 will be ok on and EQ6.  Not that I've tried it, but my 10" Quattro works with that mount and the MN190 is a lighter scope.

As for short integration time, I get so few clear skies that I've learned to process images to extract as much out of limited data that I can. Case of having to.  When I see images taken over 10, 20 or even 30 hours I think 'It would take me years to gather that much data !'

Thanks

Roy

Clear skies were promised for last night.  I got cloud and showers with a few clear bits in between. Grabbed some images in those clear interludes.  It really was a case of take one or two frames, hit pause which the clouds billowed past, then another one or two frames, and so on.  Took several hours to gather just 25 minutes of data on each image.  The stuff we have to contend with these days.

I have to say I am really impressed with this 190mm Mak-Newt.  One or two minor issues still to sort, but image quality is very impressive.  A couple of my other scopes have now become surplus to requirements !

Skywatcher MN190

ZWO ASI 6200 full frame OSC

IDAS NB1 Tri band filter

25 x 60 sec at gain 400

Thanks for looking.

Really like this - nice image and processing.

43 minutes ago, josefk said:

Absolutely wonderful - fabulous lighting on these features.

Thank you. - makes getting up early worthwhile !

53 minutes ago, MalcolmM said:

Fabulous pictures! The one of Montes Apenninus is particularly dramatic. 

Malcolm 

Thank you Malcolm, much appreciated

53 minutes ago, MalcolmM said:

Fabulous pictures! The one of Montes Apenninus is particularly dramatic. 

Malcolm 

Thank you Malcolm, much appreciated

7 hours ago, Mandy D said:

Other than price, I can see no good reason why it is not more popular. I think the 200P is going to have to go if I get one.

I think it might me a little heavier than your 200P. I seem to recall you saying that you also had a 300PDS.  If you can manage that then the MN190 will be a breeze, go for it !

19 minutes ago, Mandy D said:

The MN190 is on my wish list, but something else will have to go to make room for it!

I nearly bought one some years ago but could not find confirmation that it would cover a full frame sensor, so got the 10" Quattro CF instead. A great scope but I can already see that the MN190 has better fidelity and is not much slower. Surprising that the design is not more popular.

27 minutes ago, wavydavy said:

Yes the MN190 is a great scope had one years ago, sold it. But was awesome.............

So I keep hearing ! Only used it once but already I can see why people love it.  Image quality appears to be superior to a straight newtonian with nice tight round stars. And pretty much covers a full frame sensor.  Looking forward to the next clear night, whenever that might be !

7 hours ago, daemon said:

Excellent! Especially considering the amount of data. Really like the framing too.

Thank you and yes, considering the small amount of data I am really pleased with how it turned out. 

41 minutes ago, fwm891 said:

Great result. Something to build on rather than it all going wrong and first light being a disaster.

I had an MN190 many years ago. It's a good scope and your result proves it. Look forward to more results from that combination in the future.

Thank you !

Yes, I have read many good reports on the MN190 and even though this is just a first test I can seen that the quality is there- better than my 10 F/4 Quattro, which may now have to go !

New scope means clouds.  Or in my case two storms, floods, gales and everything else in between.

So last night, with the promise of clear skies for 3 hours, I set up and started imaging the Cygnus Wall.  10 minutes later it was raining !

All I got was 9 x 60sec subs.  I wasn't expecting much at all. but the end result surprised me, as did the performance of my newest scope - a Skywatcher MN190 Mak-Newt !

Camera was a ZWO ASI 6200 MC Pro full frame OSC with IDAS NB1 tri-band filter.

Here is what I ended up with :-

It was a bit of a long shot. Heavy rain, then a clear patch, then more rain.  I tried imaging in the clear bits but what finally thwarted me was dew.  Not on the outside - a hair drier (essential astro accessory) took care of that, but on the inside of the corrector plate and on the mirror.  It gets so damp these days that everything in the observatory is dripping wet, even in the day time.  the scope is now indoors drying out with a desiccant cap etc.

Anyway, this is what I managed to capture before the dreaded dew !

Vital stats :-

Celestron C9.25 XLT

Skywatcher CQ350 mount

ZWO ASI 183MM plus Proplanet 642 IR filter.

50% of 2000 frames at 19fps and gain 100

Processed in Autostakkert and Photoshop.

These are done at prime focus and cropped, no amplifying lenses used, so may be a little grainy.

Thanks for looking.

This so often happens. Lovely and clear when you start, then the dreaded clods roll in. What you have managed to capture looks pretty good considering. Well done.

1 hour ago, Mandy D said:

Perfect collimation and perfect focus is definitely what it is about! The Moon was certainly wobbling a fair bit this morning as I tried to get focus and I ended up with just 32 frames bfore cloud ended play.

My final result can be seen here:

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/415300-the-moon-this-morning-33-waning/

It's not the best I've had, but I'm happy with it, given the conditions and lack of time.

I was out imaging the same time as you. As you found the air was not steady and I struggled to get anything that I was happy with. As least your image is half decent !

Thank you Mike. Yes, seeing variation between panels is a real pain. Usually I do several runs for each pane and pick the best one, but just lately the skies are not clear for long enough for me to do that. Look forward to seeing your version when it's done. Your smaller aperture may be less affected by the seeing.

9 minutes ago, Mandy D said:

@Roy Foreman My 200P and 300PDS are in near perfect collimation, now, so I just need to switch over from the Nikon D800 to my ASI 178MM, but am still in the process of getting that all set up. Hopefully, as others in here assure me, I will see a step change in results.

Thank you for the encouragement.

Perfect collimation is the first step to getting great results. The second, in my view, is perfect focus. I often spend 5 mins or more getting it spot on. Not easy on a target that appears to be constantly going in and out of focus. Definately something that needs practise!

Be sure to let us see your results as you progress.

Thank you Mandy, glad you like my images, and especially glad I have given you hope. It takes practice,  perseverance and many failures before good results start to come. You will get there. And of course there is a wealth of knowledge here on SGL, all you have to do is ask. Good luck, I am sure you will do well.

Looks very neutral for a colour image, which is good.  I too have been battling with clouds and turbulence,  but we just have to make the most of what we are handed out.

Well done.

Lots of passing clouds so this had to be shot in the clear bits between by pausing the capture, then resuming when the next clear patch came past.  Definately not ideal and at no point was I able to capture the full 2000frame that I usually do.

But here are the results.

Vital stats :-

Celestron C9.25 XLT

Skywatcher CQ350 mount

ZWO ASI 183MM plus Proplanet 642 IR filter.

30% of between 600 and 1500 frames at 19fps and gain 100

Processed in Autostakkert and Photoshop.

Full disk image plus some selective enlargements made from it.

These are cropped from the full disc, no amplifying lenses used, so may be a little grainy.

Thanks for looking.

2 hours ago, John_D said:

Lovely images, the closeups are great but I'm a sucker for a full disk image. One of my longer term goals is to take a full disk picture that I can print and hang on the wall.
( I've also woken at about 4 a m. the last two mornings but it's either been cloudy or raining so I've gone back to bed. Perhaps I need more committment 😁 )

Thank you.  I too am wanting to print a full disc image large for wall hanging, as and when I manage to take the right image.

7 hours ago, maw lod qan said:

Excellent images. 

The sunlight on the mountain peaks gives you the illusion of snow.

I'm another early riser.

The three days I work I'm up at 3am. 

The terminator was over from where I saw it.

 

Thank you and wow, 3am !  Thought I was an early bird but you beat me hands down.

Thank you, glad you like my images. The clavius pane was the first one I shot and the sky was a bit clearer for that one.  I'm normally up at 5am for work so like you no stranger to early morning skies !

Woke up this morning at 4am and looked out to see clear skies and a nice bright moon.  By the time I had got up, dressed, out to the observatory, got framed up and focused for the first shot,  the clouds rolled in.  Soon after it started to rain.  We've all been there.

Not to be deterred, and to make it worth while getting up so early, I waited. And waited.  By 6am it was mostly clear again and I eventually managed, through the gaps in the clouds, to secure enough data for a 7 pane mosaic of the lunar disk.

I'm quite pleased with the result, considering the conditions.

Vital stats :-

Celestron C9.25 XLT

Skywatcher CQ350 mount

ZWO ASI 183MM plus Proplanet 642 IR filter.

30% of 2000 frames at 19fps and gain 100

Processed in Autostakkert and Photoshop.

Full disk image plus some selective enlargements made from it.

Thanks for looking.

I have the same frustrations,. The half you have captured looks good to me. Maybe do the other half next year. Weather permitting !