First Light Tak FRC 300

[budguinn]

Hello Friends,

I was able to get some reasonable weather last night. I have a new Paramount ME and also a Tak FRC 300....neither had been turned on. So, I spent awhile aligning things and figuring out the new mount. The ME is really going to make imaging fun...I only know the very basics about the mount, but it is already very easy to use and very stable....and I haven't even fussed with anthing but basic Polar Alignment and no Pec training.
This is the scope that had been dropped and damaged in delivery.....I don't see any real issues...the collimation, even with the rough handling appears to be very close.
I used my SX osc camera for all of the aligning and testing......and just for grins I aimed it at M42 and took 6shots@4min. So, this picture has very little light/exposure...and this at F7.8 and 2348mm FL.
small size:


larger sizes:
http://www.budguinn.com/gallery2/v/l...geViewsIndex=1

The focuser on the scope is a helical...it is really a pain to use....so I can see a new focuser in the near future.
I haven't even got the metal back distances quite right, but it didn't seem to effect the picture much......there was a bit of elongation in the stars that I removed with processing.
Again, this was only a quicky test to see if everything was working, and as such is a bit noisy.....I think I'm going to be very pleased with the new combo. I hope to mount my FRC300 and 180ED in tandem....changing this big monster out is to much work, and the mount should hold it ok.

thanks for looking, comments are appreciated.

[BT Technologies]

Great "first light" image Bud... I can't wait to see you post some more pictures taken with your FRC with more exposure time.

[budguinn]

Thanks, Brian.....I really like the ME, and I haven't even started doing the full tweaks......it alreay is miles ahead of my beloved CGE.
the Scope is going to work out great....going to have to get a focuser.

[BT Technologies]

I think that you are going to LOVE this combo Bud.. Judging from your past images that you took using the CGE, I can't wait to see your newest ones with the Paramount and your new FRC!!

Originally Posted by budguinn

Thanks, Brian.....I really like the ME, and I haven't even started doing the full tweaks......it alreay is miles ahead of my beloved CGE.
the Scope is going to work out great....going to have to get a focuser.

[Edsport]

Looks good bud for a quickie. Good luck with ur new setup...

[Fatih Buyuktas]

Nice first light image Bud. Gratz for the new equipment. I'm sure you'll get great results with new mount and scope.

Will you guide Epsilon with FRC? I think you'll add another CCD and a good focuser in this combo.

[budguinn]

I'm going to try to get both scopes, and guide scope, working at the same time....should work easily.
You're right, another focuser is going to be required...I just got one from Brian for the Epsilon, and the FRC is really going to need one.

bud

[neilfleming]

Nice first light, Bud. M42 seems to be a popular object for "first lights" <g>.

Is the FRC OK? What kind of damage did it sustain? TNR gonna fix it up for you?

Which focuser you leaning towards? A PDF or the Clement?

Regards...Neil

[budguinn]

Originally Posted by neilfleming

Nice first light, Bud. M42 seems to be a popular object for "first lights" <g>.

Is the FRC OK? What kind of damage did it sustain? TNR gonna fix it up for you?

Which focuser you leaning towards? A PDF or the Clement?

Regards...Neil

Hi Neil,

thanks for the kind words......UPS says they'll pay for the repairs...it only appears to have damaged the back cover.....it is easily replaceable if we can get a cost from TN.....they're working on it.
I ordered a Clements.......The PDF changes the mbd as it focuses, but the clements always remains the same because the corrector gets mounted onto it. Hopefully, this will work out well....about a six week wait for the focuser, however.

I'll probably be having some questions for you in the near future on some of the robotic things, and auto focusing......thanks for the help in the past.

bud

[neilfleming]

No problem...happy to help.

Damaged the back cover? Isn't that, like, 6" of solid neutronium? <g>

The Clement should be an outstanding choice. After autoguiding, autofocusing is the next biggest contribution to excellent data.

...Neil