High Power Observation or Photography

This is my new high power weapon:

With 1500mm native focal length, it's going to replace my Ranger with 5x Powermate (2400mm effective focal length).  The first thing that I will need to do is to test this Maksutov on the stars at high power to see if it works well at high magnification.  With this scope, I can always use my 13mm Nagler to yield 115x which is about perfect for planet/lunar observation under normal situation.  I can also sell my 7mm Japanese Ortho together.

If sky condition allows, I can always use my 2x Tele Vue Barlows to get 230x with my Nagler.  And for imaging, it also yields f/24 which is good as well.  Using extension tube should kick the magnification a bit higher and it is do-able since this scope uses moving primary as focusing and it should accommodate the extension tube.

Once its quality on high power is confirmed good, I will then make a solar filter for it!

It's a bit longer than the C5 but still very portable, on the other hand, it's still light enough for my Mark-X.

I shall also motorize the focuser and it should be hard.  Tentatively, I will fix the motor via an extension plate from the dovetail.

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Despite the poor weather, I pointed the scope at a remote building to see how it works out.

First is a shot at prime focus, despite the poor seeing (aperiodic blur could be seen on the monitor), fine detail could be resolved:-

Then, I've taken another shot at 2x, I'd say that I'm impressed by this little scope.

I didn't check the collimation but I bet it's close.  I've downloaded the instruction for collimation and I'm sure that I will try to fine tune it.

Cabinet clearing sales

Package deal: $999 HKD takes them all! 


Individual items price reduced, all reasonable offer will be entertained, just don't want to waste all these stuff.

Generic Chinese ball head, good quality, rated at 4kg.  Ask for $200 HKD.

Shoestring FCUSB, virtually new never used in the field, ask for $400 HKD. Control and power your JMI focuser via your USB port. 

SkyAtlas 2000.0 Deluxe Version, ask for $200:-

And the inside, a pen is placed along side to see the size, it's really a good visual reference!

Next is a 70mm doublet (f=500mm) mounted and with 77mm thread, suitable for macro imaging which brings the closest focusing distance down to less than 500mm. Ask for $150 HKD.

Celestron Nexstar mount parts, the gears were still available at $100 HKD as shown below, the bigger one was about 6" in diameter and the smaller one was 5".

JMI 2" -> 1.25" compression ring adapter, $100 HKD:-

A finderscope base, virtually new, it's good for you to swap your finder between scopes, ask for $50 HKD:-

Never used JJC EC-2 Eyepiece Extender for Canon EOS DSLR, $30 HKD:-

Another custom machined 2" to 1.25" adapter, it's pretty heavy and could be good for balancing light weight 1.25" eyepiece and heavier 2" eyepiece. With two locking screws for added security.  Ask for $50 HKD.

Originally for my Gitzo G1415 when I lost one of the spikes on the legs, so I still have two remain. I've sold my G1415 and now they're sitting idle... very hard to find in Hong Kong and even the distributor refused to order them for me. Ask for $200 HKD.

A small 7-14x monocular, good quality for this size, ask for $50 HKD.

GOTO Mark-X mounting plate with counter weight, ask for $80!  The gray mounting plate was sold and is not included.

Free stuff when purchase all:

預備重投太陽攝影

自從賣掉 Solarmax 40 之後，好一段時間沒有再拍攝太陽了... 後來好不容易才找出十多年前買下的 Thousand Oaks Type 2+，再加上今日的科技，拍出來的算尚不錯，但當然無法跟之前用 Herschel Wedge 來比拼。

幾經測試，把一塊細細的 binoculars objective 貼在一塊平價 1.25" 藍色瀘鏡上，變成一個 reducer 可以一次過拍出 full disc，心裡再次感到興奮！

後來發現，原來那塊 Thousand Oaks Type 2+ 已經有幾百個 pin-holes，心想必定要把它換掉，否則難以再有興趣拍下去。在出現眾多 pin-holes 之前，Thousand Oaks Type 2+ 用來目視其實效果不錯，因為成像是橙橙的，人人都愛看，也比較喜歡這顏色。

正當我打算重投太陽攝影之時，我心想性價比最高的當然就是 Baader white film solar film，特別當我想拍攝高倍的太陽黑子，所以我特別訂購了 density 3.8 的型號，方便用更短曝光拍更高倍的照片。我買了一片 A4 size 的，回來自己再剪裁。我亦買了一個 77mm 轉接環，再把 Baader film 貼上去，再接上 Ranger 專用的 lens shade，結果就是一套易於裝拆的白光拍攝濾鏡！

把 Thousand Oaks 放在一旁，盒子用作存放 Baader filter 了！

裝拆容易，同時也穩固美觀；

萬事俱備，只欠天氣。

FS: Worm driven slow motion control block

As shown, it has four pairs of M8 threaded holes spaced by 35mm (Takahashi style) to attach your equipments. On the bottom side, it has six M6 threaded holes and a free 3/8" adapter is included for attachment to 3/8" camera tripod.

  

The manual slow motion control knob is included as well.

Asked for $59 USD shipped for the above, paypal.

Option one is available at $25 USD extra, it is a 5 RPM DC geared motor, you may use it as an electrical slow motion control, you can simply reverse the polarity to reverse the direction.  It's compatible with any JMI focusing motor controller, or you can DIY yourself at very low cost.

 

Option two is available at $30 USD extra, it's a Japan made dovetail saddle (Vixen style)

This slow motion control block could be used for taking panorama, serving as the DEC axis of any existing mount like Astrotrac, etc.  Or to be used as a simple EQ tracking platform when it's tilted up.

Sun related special events in 2012

1. 日環食

日出: 5:41am
食甚: 6:06am (5-6 degrees above horizon)
復圓: 7:16am (20 degrees above horizon)

Chance is very slim, anyway, worth to have a look, even consider it as a deep partial eclipse.

2.金星凌日

1st contact: 6:12am
2nd contact:  6:30am
3rd contact: 12:31 noon
4th contact: 12:49 noon

Chance is much better given the sun is higher in the sky and the longer duration.

昨天訂了一塊 A4 size 的 Baader Solar Film (density 3.8), 希望再一次拍攝太陽而不用受那塊十幾歲的 Thousands Oaks 折磨!

2012-02-01 Short Exposure Imaging

This is to test the tracking of my Mark-X but since the polar alignment is just rough by using my Android phone to point to north and adjust to the latitude of Hong Kong, so I don't expect much.

I was using my Canon 200mm f2.8L, I've taken a series of shots at 15s each since my home sky was very bright so that I cannot do longer.  Stars remain pinpoint and it's a good sign.  On extending the exposure to 30s by lowering the ISO reveals some trail, and it's not unexpected and I guess careful polar alignment will fix the problem.  Having said that, I don't think I should remove the possibility to adjust the trimming capacitor further.

While I'm still downloading DeepSkyStacker, I pulled one of those JPGs to adjust level and crop the following:

Once the downloading finished, I shall try to stack the raws. 

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Canon 200mm f2.8 wide open, ISO 800, 15s, 14 frames:

20120128 Sun

We got a clear sky this morning, however, the aperture is partially blocked, so I don't even open the glass window.

So it's just a record of the location of AR1408 and AR1410.