Hi All.Here is my update on the last Sunday trip to Punggai Chalet , to check on my Istar 8" achro , and updating on its performance......
Although I am disappointed with the newly acquired gemini 2 , which when fitted onto the losmandy G11, due to the weight issue and long tube length, the motor stalls when start slewing, I still managed to see M57 and M31, and many others , using manual push to , to locate the DSO....
Here are my little comments that I want to tell all of you with regards to the 8" istar achro performance, for the night....whereby is a bit cloudy , and cooling night, as there is heavy clouds during the day....(strange no dew till the mroning)
1. M57 is of much better contrast then my Ultima 8" at 200X....,which I have been watching for the 2 past week , outside my home.
2. M31 this time, is much better than the view I seen through my C14, at the same place , a year ago....
The background stars are clear when I only use a TV 55mm ep, on this 1800mm scope.
The contrast on M31 is no longer just a blob of light I seen previously.....
3. Jupiter is the best , as compared to my previous 2 observation, at the same place, although this time it did not shine brightly due to thin layer of clouds....
Jupiter can only power up to 225X with my baader plantetarium 8mm to 24mm zoom eye piece.....My 9mm nagler shows the best view at 200X.....Surprising, through visual, the CA is not noticeable this time, perhaps due to the sky condition is not a very clear night.....(except when I told the video shot without any filter)
4. M6 , 7 , 8 and M44 are great , when seen through this scope....
5. It splits the double double easily near Vega.......
6. Albireo double stars is so beautiful, if the person is not an experience triplet guy... no one will ask why the 4 points star like has two colour, red on one plane and blue on the other....
7. M42 and the trapezium are easily seen , although the sky is not very cleareven during the moment of good seeing....
The Monday night is a complete washed out this time, with thick clouds..... from night fall till morning....and also heavy dew....
On Tuesday morning, I dismantled the scope into 2, and transported it back , with my car, I drove there for this special occasion...
On Wednesday, I sent the tube, which is less than 5 Ft long, to my freight forwarder, and have it transported over to Batam, another country that I am now working there, for the past 7 years...
I hope to get it cut and have 4 or 5 holes drilled through both ends, and machine a push fit connecting sleeve, or retaining coupling ring, with 4 or 5 threaded holes for connecting to the 2 cut ends of the tube....
When I am shipped it back after the modification, I may take some photos and post it in this forum.
Finally , just a simple 8 sec video I shot with the 8" IStar during last Sunday and Monday trip to Punggai.
www.flickr.com/photos/james_ling/I have passed the original full high resolution short video , to my friend to convert the file and use Registax 6 to do the processing....
Once i got back the processed still image, I'll post it in this forum....
Regards
James Ling