· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article    Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Cloudy Nights - Official Forums of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User   You are not logged in. [Login] Forum Archives · Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Announcements and News >> Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Mike Loffland Web Guru (Astronomics) Reged: 09/03/04 Posts: 2080 Loc: Norman, Oklahoma Imaging with the Astro-Tech 66mm Refractor       #3401988 - 10/21/09 11:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Astro-Tech 66mm Refractor + Imaging Post Extras:       Pierre Stromberg super member Reged: 02/07/08 Posts: 184 Loc: Woodinville, WA Re: Imaging with the Astro-Tech 66mm Refractor [Re: Mike Loffland]       #3402195 - 10/21/09 01:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I purchased an AT66 earlier this year for imaging purposes and cannot say enough nice things about this scope. Great article. Pierre -------------------- ------------ 1978 orange tube Celestron C8 1990's Celestron C90 Astro-Tech AT66 Atlas EQG with EQMOD Nikon D50 Homepage: Explore the outer limits of human belief http://www.paranormalamerika.blogspot.com Post Extras:       mathteacher Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/13/07 Posts: 2059 Loc: SF Bay Area Re: Imaging with the Astro-Tech 66mm Refractor [Re: Pierre Stromberg]       #3403621 - 10/22/09 02:26 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Very nice results. Thanks for your article. -------------------- Regards, Mr. Wang . . . . . . . My gallery . . . . . . . I'm a refractor guy! CR 150-HD - The Hammer, Vixen ED100sf - The Skipper, Orion ST80 - The Pug, Orion 7x50 Scenix Meade DSI Color, Vixen Porta Mount, Vixen Super Polaris, 2" pipe mount Please join the International Dark Sky Association Post Extras:       Grouptele sage Reged: 08/11/07 Posts: 304 Loc: Qcy, IL Re: Imaging with the Astro-Tech 66mm Refractor [Re: mathteacher]       #3405004 - 10/22/09 08:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I second the findings of the report. It allows casual imagers like myself, with modest equipment, to capture decent wide-field images. Victor -------------------- C8-XLT, G5, AT66 EQ-G Starshoot color CCD Canon XS, HapMod SPC900NC webcam Post Extras:       johnnyha Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/12/06 Posts: 1111 Re: Imaging with the Astro-Tech 66mm Refractor [Re: Grouptele]       #3410752 - 10/25/09 08:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's actually one of the best photos of the Andromeda Galaxy I've ever seen anyone post. -------------------- Johnny Spicewood, TX Sherman Oaks, CA Post Extras:       Bowmoreman Post Laureate Reged: 09/11/06 Posts: 3992 Loc: Bolton, MA Re: Imaging with the Astro-Tech 66mm Refractor [Re: johnnyha]       #3411673 - 10/26/09 10:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   George... GREAT review! I've "got all the pieces" to do the same thing, and you've now inspired me to get off my lazy posterior and give it a go! Question: how did you find out what the required spacing between the WO .8X reducer and the QHY8 Chip was supposed to be? (I'm wondering if it is the same as the spacing from my f6.3 SCT reducer for my C11 using it with my QHY8)? If so, then I've already got the spacers... Or, does the spacing distance CHANGE with a variance in the focal reducer/flatteners? Again, great article and inspiring wide-field shots! clear enough skies -------------------- Dave Imaging: MI-250+ADM/SBS/Optec Libra: C11Hyperstar,TMB80SS Visual: XT10i RTP TV: 31T5,22T4,17T4,12T4,13Ethos,8Ethos;2x Powermate,Paracorr, 1.6X Antares, Hyperion8-24Zoom Cameras: Mallincam Color Hyper Plus, QHY8 Guider: SBIG STV eFinder Key Add-ons: Gerbings Heated clothes, WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO#90), Speco 9"Monitor Post Extras:       bill fusroy member Reged: 03/23/07 Posts: 10 Loc: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Re: Imaging with the Astro-Tech 66mm Refractor [Re: Bowmoreman]       #3412851 - 10/26/09 08:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm not positive about this, but I don't think the old 100" Mt. Wilson scope ever took a film photo of the Andromeda galaxy, at least as a whole, anywhere as sharp, or with the dynamic range, as the one displayed in the review article, off the home page here, which shows some early images taken through the AstroTech 66mm refractor! Pretty amazing what even a far from top-drawer modern refractor can do when mated to a good CCD camera! And, even in non-inflation- corrected dollars, I bet the 66mm scope was still cheaper than the Hooker scope and observatory! What fantastic technological progress! -------------------- Bill Fusroy Post Extras:       geokolb member Reged: 07/10/07 Posts: 16 Loc: Phoenix, AZ Re: Imaging with the Astro-Tech 66mm Refractor [Re: Bowmoreman]       #3415087 - 10/27/09 10:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Dave, Williams Optics recommends a distance from T thread to CCD chip of 56mm. I just followed their suggestion. I actually am using about 58mm based on the combination of spacers I used. I purchased the Baader spacers from OPT. Using the Meade or Celestron 6.3 FR/FF requires a spacing of about 105mm per an article I found on the S&T website: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/astrophotography/3304356.html?page=3&c=y See 1st graph on page 1. I didn't have good luck using the Celestron 6.3 reducer on my C9.25. I was getting elongated stars at the chip edges. The circle of illumination was sufficient for my chip on the QHY8 though. I've switched to the Astro-Physics CCDT7 FR and am getting better results now (not perfect but better). I communicated with a great astrophotographer - Jim Thommes and he gave me some good advice on how to reduce the elongated stars on the outer portions of the chip: try focusing mid-way between the center and outer areas of the chip vs just the center. The more out of focus the outer areas of the chip are, the greater the star elongation. Thanks for the response to my article. Regards - George Post Extras:       geokolb member Reged: 07/10/07 Posts: 16 Loc: Phoenix, AZ Re: Imaging with the Astro-Tech 66mm Refractor [Re: Mike Loffland]       #3415102 - 10/27/09 10:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for the positive feedback on my review of the AT66. I appreciate it and enjoyed writing it. The AT66 is a great little scope. I still can't believe the images it provides. Thanks again - George Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 1 registered and 2 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  spaceydee  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 353 Jump to *International Year of Astronomy 2009* -----   Global Coordination   Cornerstone Projects   Special Projects   Special Task Groups   Global Activities   National and Regional Activities   IYA 2009 in Africa   IYA 2009 in the USA*Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Beginners Forum   Celestial Events   Light Pollution*Observing* -----   NEO   General Observing   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy CN Forums Home

Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics