Posts Made By: Gregory Damiani

Hi All!

After much good advice (on the equipment forum) I have decided to purchase a fast dob newt - 11" to 15", probably about f/4.5 (maybe 4.3). My primary interest has been planetary. I expect the focal length to be less than 1600 mm. I live in So. FL, and expect to use high power.

It is my understanding simpler EP's (ortho's, plossls, etc) aren't very satisfying on a fast scope. Should I be looking for short focal length Naglers, or will my plossls / orthos work well when used with a 3x barlow or 5x powermate?

Are there any options other than Televue for wider feild views? I know others exists - are they recommended? If so, which. (Not that I have anything against Televue, but if I can obtain similar performance at a significant discount - what the hey?).

Thanks!

Gregg
MK67 LXD55
PST
Soon to be 11"-15" premium optic dob!!

I have an MK67. I am not sure how the MK66 collimates. I am guessing you have 3 screws on the secondary, but I am not sure about the primary. My primary is fixed, no adjustment necessary or possible.

I will assume your scope is reasonably collimated. Focus with your highest power EP (barlow if needed) on Polaris (or an equivalent magnititude star if your mount tracks) to 400X to 600x. Focus the star to its smallest point. If seeing is OK you should be able to discern the first difraction ring around the star. I adjust -teeny adjustments - less than 1/16 turns, until the star is centered. You are not star testing. You only need glimpses of steadiness. If seeing isn't real bad, you should be able to judge the star relative to the first ring. Hope this helps.

Gregg

Hi All!

Dodging dew, clouds and mist, but I had to try the new toy!

Starmaster 14.5 @ approx F/25
Toucam 840
Registax 3

I really don't have the hang of either the capture software, or processing software. This is my first ever with the new scope, first with new webcam, first try with registax and first ever Mars. I am happy for this series of firsts!

I wanted to try Saturm later, but clouds, drizzle and dew ....

Thanks for looking.

Gregg Damiani

Hi All!

I have a PST - I've only used for visual. I tried imaging with a Toucam 840 - but couldn't get to focus. I would have tried a barlow, but I kow neither my Meade 2x or Televue 3x will get my EP's to focus (plossl / ortho). I know Coronado makes their own barlow which should work with the EP's and may work with the webcam - however I am looking for an inexpensive solution -

Anyone have luck with a particular inexpensive barlow with the PST?

Thanks.

Gregg

Hi All!

Here is my latest. Second imaging attempt with the new scope and webcam. 1st attempt at Saturn with this scope. Trying to get the hang of the settings and processing. Comments / constructive criticism welcomed (needed ).

Starmaster 14.5
Toucam 840 w/ IR blocking filter
Registax
Televue 3x Barlow & Meade 2x Barlow

I think this one was about 808 of 1000

Here is another attempt, I think this one was only the Televue 3x barlow.


Starmaster 14.5
Toucam 840 w/ IR blocking filter
Registax
Televue 3x Barlow & Meade 2x Barlow

Also about 808 of 1000

Hi All!

I have a collimation question. I am collimating a 14.5" Starmaster (F4.3). I have the Tectron tools (sight tube, Cheshire & Autocollimator) and a Kendrick 2" Laser.

Here's the deal. The mirror is center marked with a red dot and white circle. I use the Tectron tools. I have my wife help with the final adjustments to the primary while I look through the autocollimator. I can get the "white circle" images pretty much overlapped. Yeah!

Not so fast. Then I check with the laser. The beam doesn't fall on center of the primary - slightly off, ditto the return on the secondary and more so for the return on the laser.

I am pretty darn sure the laser is collimated. I have put it in a "V" and rotated the laser, while watching its image about 30 feet away - no circles, it stays put.

I have viewed through the scope after collimating with the laser and with the autocollimator. Planetary images have been good both times.

They cant both be right? What gives? :S

Confused in Florida (a/k/a Gregg)

Thanks!

Hi All!

In my previous thread I was faced with the following problem:

When collimating a 14.5" Starmaster (F4.3) using Tectron tools (sight tube, Cheshire & Autocollimator) and a Kendrick 2" Laser, I could not get both to "agree."

The mirror is center marked with a red dot and white circle. Using the Tectron tools I can get the "white circle" images pretty much overlapped. Then I check with the laser and the beam doesn't fall on center of the primary - slightly off, ditto the return on the secondary and more so for the return on the laser. I am pretty darn sure the laser is collimated. I have put it in a "V" and rotated the laser, while watching its image about 30 feet away - no circles, it stays put.

Reviewing other older posts I "think" the focuser may not be square. I think I will go about "squaring" the focuser in the following manner: I will collimate with the Autocollimator. I will put the laser in - I will "adjust" the focuser to try and center the laser. I am sure I will then need to re-collimate with the autocollimator - then re-adjust the focuser with the laser in place. I am guessing each iteration will bring me closer to square.

Opinions?? Is this how it is done?

Next question - what do I use to shim the focuser? I would rather not remove the focuser for each iteration. I doubt it will go back exactly the same way, so complete removal for each iteration to put in washers (for example)may be self defeating.

This whole project seems like a royal posterior discomfort. Before I try - what else are likely causes of my error? I think I have eliminated "slop" in the focuser adapters. When I rotate the laser, the beam returns to the same place, no wobble. When I rotate the autocollimator, I do get some movement of the ghost images, but when I let go, the images are fairly close to their original position. Could my secondary be misaligned? Would that cause the error I am having? Is that just wishfull thinking?

In any event - Best wishers for a Merry Christmass, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, Seasons Greetings, Happy New Year, etc!!!

Gregg

Wow - this can be frustrating. I spent forever trying to process an AVI that was too large for Registax. When I finished, I saved as a BMP, not a JPEG, and couldn't upload.

I took a break with the PST - (beautiful weather here in So. FL 8) )

Then started from scratch. I have attached the new image. Over 3000 frames, cut to 2200. Of those, 1300 used. 5 fps, 14.5 SM @ F/12.9.

The above is not the frustrating part. What is frustrating is that last night i was testing settings while imaging (thanks again Ed). They were short, 500 frames at 15 fps - process quickly - with no deliberation just to see the difference between 320 and 640 at given settings. What is frustrating is the "quickies" are - in my opinion - just about as good as the "bigger" AVI.

I am posting my "tests" next.

I can't seem to get the same image scale as I did mid December. Oh well - I'll keep trying.

Gregg

Hi All.

Decided to take out the MK67 and try imaging with the Toucam. Big difference between the 6" and 14.5" as you would expect. Aside from the difference in resolution, the lesser light gathering required maximizing the gain,increasing brightness, and max 5fps - otherwise image became too dark.

The optics on the MK67 are very good, but IMHO they can't make up for a lack of aperture. See my prior posts for comparison.

Thanks for looking.

Gregg