Double cluster and IC342 -testing a new set up

[timh]

After a 6 mo break from imaging (to finally get on with the decorating ) one clearish night (01 Feb) to check out my newly acquired mount

Second hand Ioptron CEM40 mount with old Zenith star WO 110 mm F 7.0 triplet apochromat reduced to F 5.5 and flattened with a WO Flat6IIIA 0.8x reducer/ flattener, ZWO UV/IR cut filter.

~ 180 x 20s exposures (total 1h) at unity gain, AS 1294MC camera - no guiding, dithered every 2 frames using the Sharpcap ASCOM tool. Processed in Pixinsight as a CFA drizzle x1 integration and using RC Blur Xt and Noise Xt.

Nothing remarkable about these images but I was really quite pleased with them - all the new kit working as it should (new cables, computer, USB and power hubs, mount etc) - especially for just 1 hour images on a fairly poor night with unsteady seeing (hence the short 20s exposures).

I should also acknowledge that it is really down to BlurXt deconvolution that the double cluster image shows a flat field with round -- and correctly coloured -- stars right to the edge. Even after optimising the reducer/ flattener distance to the WO110 I could never eliminate misshapen stars out in the corners - the software sorts it out completely - even to the extent that I seriously wonder whether optimising the optics even matters so much nowadays when the software is so powerful that it can compensate so well ?

Tim

[turfpit]

Tim

Very sharp across the whole field and good colour. Looks like the CEM40 was a good investment.

Dave

[timh]

Thanks Dave, I have been trying to rationalize the equipment, cables etc for a faster setup and to really try and get the best out of the refractor and the Newts. Happy with the CEM40 which works well with the refractor and can also cope OK with the 8 inch Newt if its not too windy.