Posts Made By: Thomas V Davis

Mike, nice image. Is this a cropped version or full ST11k frame?

Tom

Hi Roland,

That combination of 160mm unobstructed aperture, f/5.8 (with reducer)and large CCD chip is a dream come true! Give me that setup and an STL11k or KAF-6303E camera and POW I'm in heaven!!

I like the STL11k also in pretty much all aspects except that it is much less sensitive in Ha than the ST-10. Usually when I image in Ha with my ST-10XME I'll shoot 5-10 minute frames (f/7, 6nm filter), but with the STL11k I have to do 20-30 minute frames to get similar results. The STL11k (KAI-11000M) also has significantly more chip defects than the ST-10XE (KAF-3200E) and it also has more chip noise than the ST-10XE, thus making good processing techniques even more important.

I really like the excellent anti-blooming however, and that FOV -- WOW! The STL11k on my AP155EDF is truly wonderful -- that telescope handles that camera like they were made for each other! I had a special adapter made that connects my 4" field flattener to the STL11k's front threads thus getting rid on the STL's 2" nosepiece. The adapter connects to the field flattener via the bayonet ring just like your A1261 adapter does. It has a larger clear aperture at the CCD window than the 2" nosepiece so there is less vinetting. The custom adapter was designed to give me the proper distance from the field flattener to the CCD chip plane.

Post more images with that new setup if you can.

Thanks,
Tom Davis
Inkom, ID

Here's the cropped version showing the bubble.

Tom

Ah yes, so many nebulae, so little time!

Nice job.

Tom

Sorry, the website link is:

http://www.tvdavisastropics.com/astroimages-1_00003d.htm

Tom

Thank you all for your kind comments.

BTW, I heard yesterday from TNR and my BRC-250 survived Rita! It's on its way back to more northerly and dryer climates.

Tom

Almost alien looking! You've got to love that big RC!!!

The lower tadpole is an excellent example of a bow shock!

Tom

Thanks. Sort of an interesting nebula!

Tom

Hi Tyler,

Very nice Veil. As far as gradients go, have you tried Russ Croman's GradientXTerminator? It is a PS-CS plugin that is supposed to be great (and easy to use) on sky gradients. Maybe it would make processing images from your home a little easier. Here is the link:

http://www.rc-astro.com/resources/GradientXTerminator/index.html

If you try it, let me know what you think.

Tom

Very deep and well processed Mike!!

Tom