Moon Experiment

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OhNo Canada
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Moon Experiment

#1

Post by OhNo »


While not a big fan of imaging the Moon, Bryan's thread that he started of imaging ole Luna with a C8 got me to wondering. I also own a C8 that hasn't seen much use since I got the 8" Quattro. My set-up was a C8 (~1981 version) with a Agena Crayford style focuser, with a Canon 1100D and Comma Corrector, sitting on a CGEM mount on a pier. Last night was the second attempt due to clouds rolling in the night before. Again the clouds played with me, but I managed two shots for a mosaic through a sucker hole. So the Sky wasn't great for seeing and transparency.

As mentioned above my Image is a two shot (ISO 100 for 1/4 seconds) mosaic stitched together with MS ICE. A minor bump in wavelet channel 3 and 4 and a slight reduction in the contrast. When I compare mine and Bryan's Images, I can see that his imaging system gave him more detail out towards the edge of the Moon. He used a FR and possibly another device to flatten the FOV, mine was on-the-cheap!

Anyway here is what I came up with.

Image1005 Luna__MG_0556_Single__stitch RS II by Brent Secord, on Flickr
Scopes: SkyWatcher 8" Quattro, Celestron C8, SkyWatcher ST120, Orion ST80, SharpStar 61EDPH II. SLT 130 Celestron
Mounts: CGEM, CG-4, EQ2, Alt Az, SLT
Cameras: ZWO ASI533MC Pro, ZWO ASI120MM, Canon 1100D
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bladekeeper
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Re: Moon Experiment

#2

Post by bladekeeper »


Nice grab, Brent! :)

The reducer I used is also apparently a flattener as well. https://www.celestron.com/products/reducer-corrector

I did not know that until you mentioned it above. Huh. :lol:
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
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Re: Moon Experiment

#3

Post by OhNo »


If I remember correctly, the last time I tried my C8 on the Moon it was with the camera necked down to 1 1/4". The Comma Corrector I got when I bought the Quattro is a huge honkin' thing. I don't have many supplemental toys for improving my images. A Field Flattener is almost a must for big fat objects like the Moon!

However, I got to wondering if I used more panels in my Mosaic IF that would improve the contrast in the areas of the image that are weak (ie. above image).

LOL Bryan, see us country bumpkins from the great white north are pretty good at makin' you fair weather folks do some homework on the equipment you own!!! By suggesting you may have used a FF I may have saved you the price of another gizmo!!!! :lol: And a whole mile of drivin' to one of the best hobby shops in N. America!!! :o
Last edited by OhNo on Sun Oct 06, 2019 5:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Scopes: SkyWatcher 8" Quattro, Celestron C8, SkyWatcher ST120, Orion ST80, SharpStar 61EDPH II. SLT 130 Celestron
Mounts: CGEM, CG-4, EQ2, Alt Az, SLT
Cameras: ZWO ASI533MC Pro, ZWO ASI120MM, Canon 1100D
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Re: Moon Experiment

#4

Post by Don Quixote »


This is an interest compare, OhNo.

Imaging the moon can be exhilarating or it can cause severe schizophrenia . 😊

In my case it is the latter. Imaging the full moon has caused madness. 😊

Thank you for this interesting post and very nice images.
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Re: Moon Experiment

#5

Post by Bigzmey »


Nice captures!
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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Re: Moon Experiment

#6

Post by OhNo »


Don Quixote wrote: Sun Oct 06, 2019 4:54 pm This is an interest compare, OhNo.

Imaging the moon can be exhilarating or it can cause severe schizophrenia . 😊

In my case it is the latter. Imaging the full moon has caused madness. 😊

Thank you for this interesting post and very nice images.
I flatly refuse to even mount a scope when there is full lunacy going on. Another side of the hobby, at least if you own a DSLR is the nightscape thing. This coming full Moon will see me swappin' out the scope for a real lens and attempting to get some true brightness in the terrestrial part of my nightscape images. This is all dependant on Momma Nature co-operating. She's been know to throw hissy fits this time of year up my way!!!
Scopes: SkyWatcher 8" Quattro, Celestron C8, SkyWatcher ST120, Orion ST80, SharpStar 61EDPH II. SLT 130 Celestron
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Re: Moon Experiment

#7

Post by bladekeeper »


OhNo wrote: Sun Oct 06, 2019 4:44 pm If I remember correctly, the last time I tried my C8 on the Moon it was with the camera necked down to 1 1/4". The Comma Corrector I got when I bought the Quattro is a huge honkin' thing. I don't have many supplemental toys for improving my images. A Field Flattener is almost a must for big fat objects like the Moon!

However, I got to wondering if I used more panels in my Mosaic IF that would improve the contrast in the areas of the image that are weak (ie. above image).

LOL Bryan, see us country bumpkins from the great white north are pretty good at makin' you fair weather folks do some homework on the equipment you own!!! By suggesting you may have used a FF I may have saved you the price of another gizmo!!!! :lol: And a whole mile of drivin' to one of the best hobby shops in N. America!!! :o
Ah, the reducer belongs to my buddy Tyler, the owner of the scope. He loaned it along with the OTA. No money has left my wallet in this case. :lol:

And for the record, I come from a long line of country bumpkins (and was born and raised as one), so I get it. :D
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
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Re: Moon Experiment

#8

Post by Thefatkitty »


Nice deal Brent, I think that came out really well! I'll bet if you stacked a bunch of them you'd get some great detail :D

Hope your not getting any more snow; that was too much too early!

All the best,
Mark

"The Hankmeister" Celestron 8SE, orange tube Vixen made C80, CG4 & AZ-EQ5 mounts.
Too much Towa glass/mirrors.

H/A - PST stage 2 mod with a Baader 90mm ERF on a Celestron XLT 102 (thanks Mike!)
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W/L - C80-HD with Baader 5.0 & 3.8 Solar film, Solar Continuum 7.5nm and UV/IR filters with a Canon EOS 550D.

Oh yeah, and Solar Cycle 25 :D
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Re: Moon Experiment

#9

Post by OhNo »


Thefatkitty wrote: Sun Oct 06, 2019 5:19 pm Nice deal Brent, I think that came out really well! I'll bet if you stacked a bunch of them you'd get some great detail :D

Hope your not getting any more snow; that was too much too early!

All the best,
Nope no stacking at all, just two 1/4 second images at ISO 100 stitched together. Was shot at 1911Hrs last night.

Yeah that damn snow storm.... Your correct, too much too early. Out this way the pickup always looks dis-organized no matter what ya do. You see we keep three full sets of clothes and 3 types of footwear in there 12 months of the year. and you have need a ski-doo suit in July and a pair of shorts on the same day. Only constant is the wind!!!! I wasn't holding my breath yesterday afternoon. the wind was blowin' @ 60km/hr. Died down with the Sunset.
Scopes: SkyWatcher 8" Quattro, Celestron C8, SkyWatcher ST120, Orion ST80, SharpStar 61EDPH II. SLT 130 Celestron
Mounts: CGEM, CG-4, EQ2, Alt Az, SLT
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Re: Moon Experiment

#10

Post by Kanadalainen »


Lovely stuff Brent. I like your C8 too, really cool scopes.
Ian

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Re: Moon Experiment

#11

Post by OhNo »


I have delegated it to Solar and Lunar duty, so it doesn't see much action. Being f/10 and me buying the wrong Focal reducer (.5) it is just too difficult to get long exposure of the DSOs I trying to image. I should sell it, but Saskatchewan (especially my place) seems to be the final stop for old gear like it!!! They say there's one born every minute, I must be one of 'em!!!
Scopes: SkyWatcher 8" Quattro, Celestron C8, SkyWatcher ST120, Orion ST80, SharpStar 61EDPH II. SLT 130 Celestron
Mounts: CGEM, CG-4, EQ2, Alt Az, SLT
Cameras: ZWO ASI533MC Pro, ZWO ASI120MM, Canon 1100D
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Re: Moon Experiment

#12

Post by Hankmeister3 »


Dittos, full moons are the bane of my astrographic pursuits. I'd rather stay home and wash the dishes or something equally as productive.

BTW, OhNo I have an early 1980s vintage Celestron C8 that I acquired for $299 in early 2018 including a working 9-volt RA drive (declination is simply a manual worm and sector gear set-up) and respectable tripod! It actually tracks very well for visual use, both the primary and secondary mirrors are bright, clear and clean, and everything works perfectly. I haven't used it for over a year but it's a pretty cool piece of kit for quick set-up and casual viewing.
Telescopes: Meade LX90 10-inch f/10 UHC Coma-free SCT; Explore Scientific 127mm f/7.5 APO ED triplet refractor; Explore Scientific 102mm f/7 APO ED triplet refractor; Explore Scientific 80mm f/6 APO ED triplet refractor; Skywatcher 72mm f/6 ED Schott doublet refractor; Meade 70mm f/5 APO quadruplet astrograph refractor; Skywatcher Quattro 8-inch f/4 Newtonian astrograph; Orion 6-inch f/4 Newtonian astrograph; Skywatcher SkyMax 180mm f/15 Maksutov; iOptron 150mm f/12 Maksutov; Orion f/9 Ritchey-Chretien RC astrograph
Eyepieces: Set of 7 Baader Hyperion eyepieces, 3 Meade 5000 glass handgrenades; 1970s era Japanese manufactured Meade 12.5mm Orthoscopic, and too many other eclectic eyepieces to list
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Re: Moon Experiment

#13

Post by Mac »


Great shot!
Steve

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Re: Moon Experiment

#14

Post by pmwolsley »


Nice image Brent,

This summer I spent one night imaging the Apollo 11 landing site. I found it was a great project for a moonlit night. Your image has that historic site dead centre of the image.

Clear Skies

Peter
Scopes:Celestron 8" EdgeHD + 0.7focal reducer, Skywatcher BK80ED +0.85 focal reducer
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Re: Moon Experiment

#15

Post by OhNo »


Thanks Peter. I learn something new every day! Not bad for an old dog huh!!!! :shock: :lol:

OR I was not-so-bright earlier in life!!! :o :D
Scopes: SkyWatcher 8" Quattro, Celestron C8, SkyWatcher ST120, Orion ST80, SharpStar 61EDPH II. SLT 130 Celestron
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Re: Moon Experiment

#16

Post by OhNo »


test
Scopes: SkyWatcher 8" Quattro, Celestron C8, SkyWatcher ST120, Orion ST80, SharpStar 61EDPH II. SLT 130 Celestron
Mounts: CGEM, CG-4, EQ2, Alt Az, SLT
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Re: Moon Experiment

#17

Post by Hankmeister3 »


You'll never hate a C8.
Telescopes: Meade LX90 10-inch f/10 UHC Coma-free SCT; Explore Scientific 127mm f/7.5 APO ED triplet refractor; Explore Scientific 102mm f/7 APO ED triplet refractor; Explore Scientific 80mm f/6 APO ED triplet refractor; Skywatcher 72mm f/6 ED Schott doublet refractor; Meade 70mm f/5 APO quadruplet astrograph refractor; Skywatcher Quattro 8-inch f/4 Newtonian astrograph; Orion 6-inch f/4 Newtonian astrograph; Skywatcher SkyMax 180mm f/15 Maksutov; iOptron 150mm f/12 Maksutov; Orion f/9 Ritchey-Chretien RC astrograph
Eyepieces: Set of 7 Baader Hyperion eyepieces, 3 Meade 5000 glass handgrenades; 1970s era Japanese manufactured Meade 12.5mm Orthoscopic, and too many other eclectic eyepieces to list
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Re: Moon Experiment

#18

Post by OhNo »


Hankmeister3 wrote: Sun Nov 10, 2019 8:33 pm You'll never hate a C8.
I'd never say never, it hasn't had much use since I got the 8" SW Quattro. The C8 has been relegated to Planetary, Lunar and Solar. Going to use her tomorrow morning to see if I can catch the Neptune transit of the Sun. Will be down in the dirt a ways, but ya never know if ya don't try, right!!!!
Scopes: SkyWatcher 8" Quattro, Celestron C8, SkyWatcher ST120, Orion ST80, SharpStar 61EDPH II. SLT 130 Celestron
Mounts: CGEM, CG-4, EQ2, Alt Az, SLT
Cameras: ZWO ASI533MC Pro, ZWO ASI120MM, Canon 1100D
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Re: Moon Experiment

#19

Post by Ylem »


I never get tired of looking at Moon images :)

Nice
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


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