I got an Extender-Q recently to image at around 800mm with my FSQ-106. Here's first light with that combo. Maxim's Pinpoint LE measured a lower focal length of 814mm, a little less than I expected, but I'm pretty happy with the image scale. There are just some objects that could use longer focal lengths (hence my still on-going quest for a nice scope > 1000mm), but M101 works at 800mm.
Equipment:
Takahashi FSQ-106 @ f/8 with Extender-Q
Takahashi EM200 Temma-2 mount
SBIG ST-8XE camera with CFW-8a filter wheel
Astrodon LRGB filters
L: 18 x 10 minutes (3 hours) binned 1 x 1
R: 12 x 5 minutes (1 hour) binned 2 x 2
G: 12 x 5 minutes (1 hour) binned 2 x 2
B: 12 x 5 minutes (1 hour) binned 2 x 2
I ended up with several versions of this image. A few have the blue arms typically depicted, but these resulted in clipped histograms, especially in the green. What I am presenting is a compromise with more or less balanced histograms (well, slightly skewed to blue).
Half-sized image attached. Full-sized image can be seen at http://members.nuvox.net/~on.aunt/DSO/M101.jpg
Comments welcome.
Eric
Equipment:
Takahashi FSQ-106 @ f/8 with Extender-Q
Takahashi EM200 Temma-2 mount
SBIG ST-8XE camera with CFW-8a filter wheel
Astrodon LRGB filters
L: 18 x 10 minutes (3 hours) binned 1 x 1
R: 12 x 5 minutes (1 hour) binned 2 x 2
G: 12 x 5 minutes (1 hour) binned 2 x 2
B: 12 x 5 minutes (1 hour) binned 2 x 2
I ended up with several versions of this image. A few have the blue arms typically depicted, but these resulted in clipped histograms, especially in the green. What I am presenting is a compromise with more or less balanced histograms (well, slightly skewed to blue).
Half-sized image attached. Full-sized image can be seen at http://members.nuvox.net/~on.aunt/DSO/M101.jpg
Comments welcome.
Eric
Attached Image:
