First light for the Mark I - Tasco

[Kanadalainen]

Scope test: 60 mm Tasco doublet, 80's Celestron star diagonal, 80's Meade super plossl EP 40 mm


Hello all,

Yesterday sat 8:30 pm I left the city to do some visual and imaging of M8. Its still readily available (at 49* latitude) on the southern horizon.

It was very exciting for me because it was my first chance to use the Mark I Tasco 60mm scope. I fastened it to my rings holding the SV and rigged the little Tasco with a 40mm Meade super plossl - quite a respectable EP, and certainly able to take in a wide view.

What can I say? This little scope is amazing. M8 was resplendent in my FOV, and M20 somewhat less so. A great main optic in this refractor.

I still haven't got my guide camera for it, but am really happy to use it for siting in the main scope.

I spent some time dodging clouds and the moon rose at ~ 12:05... but this turned out to be a nice evening. It even included a close proximal visit from one of the coyote pack that populates the RASC observatory grounds.

I finished up around 1:30 am and lots of data. The visuals on my Messiers from the Tasco were strikingly good.

Thanks for looking!

[pakarinen]

Is that a club obsy? Looks like a great location.

[Thefatkitty]

Ian, that really looks good! You've done a much better job with the mounting than I ever did

Where did you find the tube rings? Glad to hear it works well visually; that's the one thing I never did with it was take it to a dark sky location. You probably saw more with it last night than I ever have. I still have my other version here, so I might have to do that one day.

That whole setup on your EQ5 looks great. I hope it works as well as a guide scope too. And that's the local RASC site? I wonder if the concrete under the table was used to hold a mount in days past... I'm with pakarinen, looks like a great location.

Looking forward to the results of all your data!

All the best mon ami and glad all is good,

[Kanadalainen]

Is that a club obsy? Looks like a great location.

Yes! The one you are looking at is owned by the U of M. I houses a big reflector on a monster sized mount. Its being fixed and tuned by a pack of physics students at the moment. The club that I belong to has another building, almost the same, just out of the FOV. Its got a warm room and a lovely big 16" dob and a 14" SCT. The Meade can be operated remotely.

Ian

[Kanadalainen]

Ian, that really looks good! You've done a much better job with the mounting than I ever did



Where did you find the tube rings? Glad to hear it works well visually; that's the one thing I never did with it was take it to a dark sky location. You probably saw more with it last night than I ever have. I still have my other version here, so I might have to do that one day.

That whole setup on your EQ5 looks great. I hope it works as well as a guide scope too. And that's the local RASC site? I wonder if the concrete under the table was used to hold a mount in days past... I'm with pakarinen, looks like a great location.

Looking forward to the results of all your data!

All the best mon ami and glad all is good,

Salut, its so good Mark! Thanks again. I really like the views in this little frac. Those rings are second handers from my buddies' parts pile (76 mm) and I lined them with a door insulating rubberized strip.

The site is RASC and the U of Manitoba. Its my official club, but a small band of us only use the place, its really nice.

I have some nice images, and will post them.

[Juno16]

Looks great Ian!

Man, your scopes are really nice! Beautiful setup. The scenery is also beautiful!

I was excited to get out tonight after 28 days. Got the mount outside, but I might bring it in. Completely clouded over now and the sky predictions have deteriorated.

So glad that you got out! looking forward to the M8 data!

[Kanadalainen]

Looks great Ian!

Man, your scopes are really nice! Beautiful setup. The scenery is also beautiful!

I was excited to get out tonight after 28 days. Got the mount outside, but I might bring it in. Completely clouded over now and the sky predictions have deteriorated.

So glad that you got out! looking forward to the M8 data!

Hi Jim,

Thanks! I really enjoyed yesterday night. While I was waiting for the clouds to get away from Polaris or my targets, I listened to some great music (Rhiannon Ghiddens on "Live in Lincoln Centre" on Sirius radio), and drank some tea.

Sometimes its the most simple things that make a big difference into how one enjoys one's astro.

I hope it clears up for you soon.. the southern skies are really nice during the next two months.

I will upload my stuff to OneDrive and post this evening.

Cheers

[terrynak]

Great to hear that the Mark I telescope worked out well - nice first light and pics Ian!

You can see a lot with a 60mm 'frac away from the city. Had some beautiful views with it away from home.

[Kanadalainen]

Great to hear that the Mark I telescope worked out well - nice first light and pics Ian!

You can see a lot with a 60mm 'frac away from the city. Had some beautiful views with it away from home.

You are right Terry! M8 revealed some nice nebulosity with full dark adaptation. I let my eyes get dialled in for about an hour, and the views just prior to midnight were very nice, much like those in the little Sears 60 mm that I owned a few years ago.

[Kanadalainen]

As promised M8 and M20 - can also be found in the AP section - a busier place.

Imaging telescopes or lenses:Stellarvue 70 mm f6 apo triplet refractor
Imaging cameras:Canon 60D
Mounts:SkyWatcher EQ5
Focal reducers:Stellarvue SFFR70APO
Software:Adobe Photoshop CC 2020 , SkySafari 6 Pro , Adobe Lightroom 2019 CC , Aries Productions Astro Pixel Processor APP
Filters:Optolong CLS - CCD clip in
Accessory:Orion Bahtinov mask , black tea yorkshire , Red headlamp Black Diamond


Dates:July 8, 2020
Frames:Optolong CLS - CCD clip in: 17x120" ISO800
Integration: 0.6 hours
Darks: ~20
Flats: ~20
Bias: ~20
Avg. Moon age: 18.06 days
Avg. Moon phase: 88.20%
Bortle Dark-Sky Scale: 3.00
Mean FWHM: 2.90
Temperature: 21.00

Basic astrometry details
RA center: 18h 1' 50"
DEC center: -23° 39' 36"
Pixel scale: 2.616 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 22.309 degrees
Field radius: 2.272 degrees
Resolution: 5200x3471