First image using Lightbridge 16 on EQ of UFO Galaxy...

[Demon]

Hi All,

I have been working on getting this up and running for a long time now as some of you know.

The LB16 (50kg in total including SW80ED etc...) is on a large EQ fork mount that was tracking at 1.5arcsec total.

All the electronics are my own and goto is now working fantastically using plate solving to get on target.

Nina is talking to Stellarium and PHD2 and it worked last night for the first time reliably for a few hours. I managed to get a second hand but otherwise mint QHY9C camera (-10C, 20 gain, 120 offset), no coma corrector. And this is 20x120s lights, biases and darks.

I need to add my own diy electronic focuser as focus could have been better, add a truss light shroud as theres definitely leakage, add secondary dew heater and blacken the sides and back, and get better at collimation (thought I was but nope) and it has previously tracked better (but I changed some settings and made it worse). Plus it has shown spider diffraction spikes previously but got none on this - so guessing its quite a bit off. I also need to block the neighbours chimneys and get a lot better at processing. So while its not a patch on others thought I'd stick it on (just really starting to image with this crazy rig) I am so pleased just to get it working and finally image on target. Also I'm amazed as I think it shows some dust lanes and even a very feint hint of the tiny galaxy at the bottom left just below to the two small stars.

Plenty to do to improve and would greatly appreciate your critique (good and bad) thanks very much.

[Sonyme]

I know considerably less than you about astrophotography but I do think you have the makings of a decent image here. Your galaxy definitely has some detail in it which I'm sure will sharpen up as you get to grips with your equipment. Could I humbly suggest you practice more on objects within the milky way until you are happy with you kit. These DSO's are hard to get right even when everything is optimised.      Gary

[TerryMcK]

There appears to be some star trailing due to guiding as it is all going in the same direction. PHD2 has some guiding logs that you can examine in the PHD2 log viewer. It might show something up.

Also there seems to be some light pollution seeping in. That truss light shroud will clear that up. But overall what fantastic results knowing the rig and your excellent electronics it is a very promising setup. 

I really look forward to following your journey Nick

[Demon]

Thanks very much gents and all comments gratefully received.

I really appreciate you agreeing that there's some detail - gives me hope!I

Initially I was gutted but then looked closer and I'm still really hoping this rig has legs.

I agree much of the milky way is easier but mainly because of the larger field of view those targets require so seeing and guiding are somewhat less critical as opposed to smaller targets, however this is a longer focal length rig that can't get most of those in, it's really built for galaxies and smaller nebula. See if that makes sense or whether I'm missing something as I'm no expert.

Ive definitely got elongated stars and mainly agree I need to have a look at tracking - I'll have a look at the logs thanks. Although I did change some settings based on Cuiv's recommendations and it made it worse on this outing (enabled ppec) and binned. So hopefully tonight I'll revert those.

The thing I'm wondering also is whether I have pinched optics, the early meade lightbridge mirror cells were bad designs - so likely another job for the summer. Just thinking about it I need to check whether the elongation is easy-west of North-South as that might tell me more???love probably best. I've got a foam camping mat on its way to hopefully fix the significant light leaks. I also took the leap and a coma corrector is on its way from flo (although I'm not sure if coma is too bad yet - but likely will be when focused better). Will be checking collimation again also.

Still got a long way to go on this journey - this is pretty bad compared to most forum images however it is finally great having to worry about the quality of images compared to getting this behemoth simply onto target.

Thanks for giving this your time.

[TerryMcK]

The PHD2 logs will show you whether it is in RA or DEC (or both). Cuiv has a great video with him experimenting with the ZWO AM5 mount, that touched on guiding issues due to wind, I watched it this morning.

 

[Demon]

Perfect thanks Terry, watched it last night and probably good advice for everyone to review. Also gave me a couple of other ideas that I need to check regarding the clutches on the mount. Coma corrector should arrive today, so after that just likely need a ten foot wall😉 cheers, Nick

[Demon]

Finally got a chance to have a look based on Terry's suggestion (much appreciated) - the PHD2 guide graphs are really interesting/valuable - especially as I move forward. It looks like my guide stars were dipping a lot (yellow - likely the chimneys going on that night) and there was a bit if breeze, I've definitely had better more stable guiding. I can also see a regular oscillation in RA (45s) and dec (240s) which I'll track down - Explains elongated stars. This is going to be a fantastic tool to help make guiding better. Plenty of things to do to fine tune this beast. Oddly the PPEC that I enabled was supposed to help with periodic error - will be interesting to see graphs with it back to original setting. Can also likely tune settings better with this.

Edited March 23 by Demon

[Demon]

RA Zoomed in (BLUE 45s Period Oscillation) & DEC Zoomed in (RED 45s & 240s Period Oscillations)

 

 

 

 

 

Actually looking at the frequency graphs and closer at the response of dec, it looks like theres a couple of things going on with that axis...this is great.

Edited March 23 by Demon