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First EAA light with TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 102 mm f/7 FPL53 Triplet-Apo

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#1 GazingOli

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 05:28 AM

Hi,

 

last Thursday a friend sold me his almost unused TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 102 mm f/7 FPL53 Triplet-Apo and so I got an additional setup for EAA. I got a 0.8x reduder for it and last night I had some hours of CS for the first light. And I had a lot of fun with this setup!!!

 

This telescope is a classic beauty and very well crafted. It comes with 2.5" focuser that is very precise and has a payload of 11 lbs. The optics is a triplet with FLP 53 and free of chromatic aberration.
 
TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 102mm f/7 FPL53 Triplet APO Refractor
 
 
I got a 0.8x reducer for it, so the FL is 571 mm and the focal ratio is f/5.6
 
Reducer 0.8x
 
 
Some images from last night:
 
 
NGC 281 Pacman Nebula 30 frames x 32 s resized
 
NGC 281 Pacman Nebula
 
 
M 45 Pleiades (7 Sisters) 15 frames x 32 s resized

 

M 45 Pleiades (7 Sisters)
 
 
NGC 884 & NGC 869 Double Cluster Mel 13 26 frames x 32s resized
 
NGC 884 & NGC 869 Double Cluster Mel 13
 
 
NGC 7789 Caroline's Rose Cluster 15 frames x 32s resized
 
NGC 7789 Caroline's Rose Cluster
 
 
Three more images are here, and here.
 
 
The scope is IMHO great for EAA, if you use a reducer! The ASI 533 with the Optolong L-Pro filter did a good job on nebulae last night. I am really pleased to have added this scope to my stock of equipment.

 

equipment

TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 102 mm f/7 FPL53 Triplet-Apo
on iOptron HAE 29 mount unguided
ZWO ASI 533 camera, Optolong L-Pro filter
images captured and stacked with SharpCap 4
flats & darks applied, gain 300, offset 30


Edited by GazingOli, 06 October 2024 - 11:49 PM.

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#2 MrRoberts

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 08:09 AM

sweeeet bow.gif



#3 mgCatskills

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Posted 07 October 2024 - 08:12 AM

Perfect timing....  Orion is coming!!

 

My Askar V has a 600mm configuration very similar to what you're using.  It has produced some of my fave observations because that focal length gives you enough detail while preserving context...  If you haven't already, check out NINA's Framing/Rotation assistant.  It's perfect for framing those shots.

 

B33 / Horsehead Nebula | 20m | cropped

Horsehead_Nebula_featured.jpg


Edited by mgCatskills, 07 October 2024 - 10:21 AM.

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#4 GazingOli

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Posted 07 October 2024 - 08:47 AM

Beautiful!!!

 

Perfect timing....  Orion is coming!!

 

 

Yes, actually I wanted to stay outside until morning. However at 0200 there was a strong fog coming up. What a pitty.

 

But Orion time just started! And I am really looking forward to using this apo for the Orion objects.

 

CS.Oli


Edited by GazingOli, 07 October 2024 - 08:47 AM.

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#5 mgCatskills

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Posted 07 October 2024 - 10:41 AM

Beautiful!!!

 

 

Yes, actually I wanted to stay outside until morning. However at 0200 there was a strong fog coming up. What a pitty.

 

But Orion time just started! And I am really looking forward to using this apo for the Orion objects.

 

CS.Oli

I can see the southern sky from my bathroom window...at my age that means I get a couple of chances to check it out most nights.  Orion gets framed perfectly when it's around 30° elevation, though I can start seeing it around 15° if I move close and peer to the left. 

 

Right now, here at lat 42°N, you've got about 2 hours before the skies start to lighten.  So you need everything already set up, or (in my case) the Seestar close to hand.  Last week I was trying to capture the 6 Messier objects from 110 that I'd been missing -- all of which are below Orion.  All but one was a cluster of some sort, so the captures went quickly and I got all of them done between 3:55 (when I noticed) and 5:24 (Astro dawn).  Never did get back to sleep though, so I was pretty grumpy.

 

I had a similar experience last December when I was anticipating galaxy season and capturing the Leo Triplet.  This was 5 AM and remains my favorite Seestar capture.  I find that seeing and transparency in the wee hours of the morning can be the best...

 

SeeStar-Leo-Triplet.jpg


Edited by mgCatskills, 07 October 2024 - 10:43 AM.

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#6 GazingOli

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Posted 26 October 2024 - 03:40 AM

got the Starizona ApexED L 0.65 reducer / corrector for the apo now. First light tonight, if the weather will be suitable.

 

Starizon ApexED L 0.65 Reducer / Corrector
 
Makes it f/4.55 instead of f/7. This reducer should work very well with the ASI 533.
 
CS.Oli

Edited by GazingOli, 26 October 2024 - 03:42 AM.

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#7 GazingOli

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Posted 26 October 2024 - 03:44 PM

weather is good and I am just doing first light with the new reducer:

 

20241026_194821.jpg

 

Packman nebula, the very first object, looks really good! Right now I am at the 14th object of the night and it seems that there is not much sleep tonight smile.gif

 

CS.Oli


Edited by GazingOli, 26 October 2024 - 03:45 PM.

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#8 GazingOli

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Posted 27 October 2024 - 06:26 AM

so, here we are with the real images. I had a great EAA session last night - from 8 pm to 2 am, until some fog came up. It was my 37th EAA session this year and I did 37 different targets - just a coincidence. And it was my first light with the Starizon ApexED 0.65 reducer / corrector, making the apo f/4.55.

 

I had so much fun! This setup is working very well, the components seem to be made for each other.

 

First thing I captured was

 

 

NGC 281 Pacman Nebula 46 frames x 16s cropresized

 

NGC 281 Pacman Nebula
 
 
one thing that went much better than expected was the
 
Sh2-155 Cave Nebula 56 frames x 16s cropresized
 
Sh2-155 Cave Nebula
 
 
and then I had to try some classic targets, of course:
 
NGC 7635 et al 40 frames x 16s resized
 
NGC 7635 et al

 

 

M 31 Andromenda Galaxy 30 frames x 16s resized

 
M 31 Andromenda Galaxy
 
 
M 33 Triangulum Galaxy 54 frames 16s cropresized
 
M 33 Triangulum Galaxy
 
 
IC 1795 Fish Head Nebula 46 frames x 16s cropresizedrotated
 
IC 1795 Fish Head Nebula
 
 
IC 1396 Elephant's Trunk Nebula 31 frames x 16s cropresized
 
IC 1396 Elephant's Trunk Nebula
 
 
M 35 Shoe-Buckle Cluster 16 frames x 16s cropresized

 

M 35 Shoe-Buckle Cluster

 

 

M 76 Little Dubell Nebula 32 frames x 16s cropped

 
M 76 Little Dubell Nebula
 
 
M 1 Crab Nebula 45 frames x 16s crop
 
M 1 Crab Nebula
 
 
NGC 2244 Rosette Nebula 86 frames 16s resized
 
NGC 2244 Rosette Nebula
 
 
IC 434 et al 69 frames x 16s resized
 
IC 434 et al
 
 
M 42 Orion Nebula 30 frames x 16s resized
 
M 42 Orion Nebula
 
 
There are a lot more but I will stop here - you will find more in my gallery.
 
 
One thing about this setup is, that is very well for bigger targets, but not so much for small galaxies, PN's or other small objects. I tried the Dusty Hand Galaxy NGC 2146 and was a little disappointed:
 
NGC 2146 compared
 
So that is where nothing can beat my C8!
 
 
But still - the TS 102 triplet apo is a great tube for EAA, especially with the Starizona ApexED 0.65 reducer and the ASI 533.
 
 
 
TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 102 mm f/7 FPL53 Triplet-Apo
Starizona ApexED reducer / corrector -> f/4.55
on iOptron HAE 29 mount unguided
ZWO ASI 533 camera, Optolong L-Pro filter
images captured and stacked with SharpCap 4
flats & darks applied, gain 300, offset 30
 

 


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#9 steveincolo

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Posted 27 October 2024 - 02:20 PM

 

so, here we are with the real images. I had a great EAA session last night - from 8 pm to 2 am, until some fog came up. It was my 37th EAA session this year and I did 37 different targets - just a coincidence. And it was my first light with the Starizon ApexED 0.65 reducer / corrector, making the apo f/4.55.

 

I had so much fun! This setup is working very well, the components seem to be made for each other.

 

First thing I captured was

 

 

NGC 281 Pacman Nebula 46 frames x 16s cropresized

 

 
 
 
one thing that went much better than expected was the
 
Sh2-155 Cave Nebula 56 frames x 16s cropresized
 
 
 
 
and then I had to try some classic targets, of course:
 
NGC 7635 et al 40 frames x 16s resized
 
 

 

 

M 31 Andromenda Galaxy 30 frames x 16s resized

 
 
 
 
M 33 Triangulum Galaxy 54 frames 16s cropresized
 
 
 
 
IC 1795 Fish Head Nebula 46 frames x 16s cropresizedrotated
 
 
 
 
IC 1396 Elephant's Trunk Nebula 31 frames x 16s cropresized
 
 
 
 
M 35 Shoe-Buckle Cluster 16 frames x 16s cropresized

 

 

 

 

M 76 Little Dubell Nebula 32 frames x 16s cropped

 
 
 
 
M 1 Crab Nebula 45 frames x 16s crop
 
 
 
 
NGC 2244 Rosette Nebula 86 frames 16s resized
 
 
 
 
IC 434 et al 69 frames x 16s resized
 
 
 
 
M 42 Orion Nebula 30 frames x 16s resized
 
 
 
 
There are a lot more but I will stop here - you will find more in my gallery.
 
 
One thing about this setup is, that is very well for bigger targets, but not so much for small galaxies, PN's or other small objects. I tried the Dusty Hand Galaxy NGC 2146 and was a little disappointed:
 
 
 
So that is where nothing can beat my C8!
 
 
But still - the TS 102 triplet apo is a great tube for EAA, especially with the Starizona ApexED 0.65 reducer and the ASI 533.
 
 
 
TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 102 mm f/7 FPL53 Triplet-Apo
Starizona ApexED reducer / corrector -> f/4.55
on iOptron HAE 29 mount unguided
ZWO ASI 533 camera, Optolong L-Pro filter
images captured and stacked with SharpCap 4
flats & darks applied, gain 300, offset 30

 

Great stuff!  I especially like M42.  You inspired me to pick up the ApexED reducer for my AT130EDT.

 

P.S.: Your C8 Dusty Hand is superb, so no shame in not matching it.


Edited by steveincolo, 27 October 2024 - 02:21 PM.

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#10 alphatripleplus

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Posted 27 October 2024 - 02:56 PM

That Apex reducer is a little pricey.... but as it seems to work well, looks to be worth it.


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#11 GazingOli

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Posted 29 October 2024 - 11:03 PM

I got it second hand, good as new. In Germany it is more than 700 Eur new!

 

CS.Oli


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