Ultrastar 1st light

[nytecam]

Been testing a new SX Ultrastar guider and prime imager for live-view astro in very brief exposures - the latter in this post.

It has a latest larger 1.4Mp Sony 825 sensor used in the cooled Trius-SX9 []http://www.sxccd.com/trius-sx9]but uncooled in the tiny 1-1/4" barrel Lodestar body for the Ultrastar. Unbinned it's slightly slower than the classic Lodestarx2 but soon exceeds it when binned 2x2, 3x3, 4x4 and blazing 8x8 bin - latter best in finder mode in but 1sec exposures!

Targets from last night M13/27/57/N6781/Vega. Click 2nd M57 image for full res. No darks/flats - some vignetting/coma issues first night out. More to follow.

Hope it's of interst

Nytecam

[xtreemchaos]

great firstlight mate, loving tha mono.thanks for posting. charl.

[nytecam]

I see there's an announcement for the Ultrastar on the SX homepage 'news' - available at the end of August so not long to wait:-)

Nytecam

[orion25]

Great shots! Very much of interest, my friend. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing more.

Clear skies,

Reggie

[DonBoy]

Maurice,

Great first light with the UltraStar.  You indicated an image of N6781 was to be included but was left out.  Is that NGC6781? 

Do you know whether there will be a color version of this camera and will that be released also at the end of August.

Don

[nytecam]

Maurice,

 

Great first light with the UltraStar.  You indicated an image of N6781 was to be included but was left out.  Is that NGC6781? 

 

Do you know whether there will be a color version of this camera and will that be released also at the end of August.

 

Don

Hi Don - omitted hi-res NGC6782 PN in Aql attached together with last night's M57 with nice detail in the Ring much superior to the Lodestar in the same scope and f/ratio - again in 60s.

Suspect the mono [due to guiding app] will be first. The colour/mono Lodestar 829 are, I believe, the same cost so likewise with the two Lodestars. The 825 due to volume production is much more expensive than the 829.

Done a series on M57 in all 5 imaging modes 1x1 - 8x8[!] for posting soon. ;-)

Nytecam