7 replies to this topic

[kannassee]

There are so many buildings and high rises nearby to where I live that the Vespera sometimes will not even be able to initialize.

 

It seems that the worst thing is not so much the light pollution from above from the Bortle 8 or 9 skies, but the stray light that will find its way to the sensor, preventing

the Vespera not only from getting nice pics without optical artifacts but sometimes even messing with the initialize process.

 

I built a rather primitive light shield, and it made a big difference!!!,

 

The quality of the pictures increased big time, less noise, black background skies, more contrast, etc.

Because of that I would like to try to build a better light shield and even maybe I could cover the inside with a non reflective material.

 

I have not been able to find a light shield for sale or already manufactured for the Vespera, despite to the fact that for us downtown dwellers a light shield would make a BIG difference.

 

Does anybody has any plans or data that can be used to 3d print one??....specially the most important part would be the area where it would connect to the OTA, due to the fact that the shape of this OTA is rather unique...

 

Also should the length of the light shield be limited by a certain value? Of course its clear that it should not block the sensor's view or light path.

 

I also noticed that for the light shield to work it should be in place before the Vespera starts to initialize or to autofocus.

It seems that if I install it while its already doing the autofocus it will get like "frozen" and it will not finish the process.

 

Any suggestions or ideas are welcomed.

 

[StargazerLuigi]

Here is one 3d model I found:

https://www.thingive...m/thing:5455237

[sevenofnine]

This might be another possibility:...

 

https://www.etsy.com...utiondew-shield.

[bradhaak]

Here's the one I use. I tried the one above, and seemed to get some interference on captures. Maybe it was just me, but I prefer this one:

 

https://www.thingive...m/thing:6731427

[kannassee]

Here's the one I use. I tried the one above, and seemed to get some interference on captures. Maybe it was just me, but I prefer this one:

 

https://www.thingive...m/thing:6731427

I think I am gonna try this design first.

 

Since I want it to extend over the lens about 100 mm, I would prefer to be safe and make it wider than the lenses diameter, so as to not restrict the sensor view/image.

 

If the lenses are 50 mm, and the shield is 90 mm wide, I think if I extended the shield for another 100 mm probably it would not

interfere with the sensor's light path. (since it will be 25 mm wider that the 50 mm lens each side)

[kannassee]

I think I am going to apply some Protostar flocking , that should be enough.....

 

Baffling would be too much LOL

[kannassee]

Here's the one I use. I tried the one above, and seemed to get some interference on captures. Maybe it was just me, but I prefer this one:

 

https://www.thingive...m/thing:6731427

 

Actually I sent to print the 3D model of the light shield and it came out super!!!!

It fits perfectly into the telescope, and it will slide out when the arm is closing.

 

The stray light issues were gone, however I started getting oval shaped stars.....I think it had to do in my case with the weight of the light shield?.....probably the clutch of my Vespera  was slipping a little bit.

 

Is there a way of doing the light shield walls thinner, I mean as thin as possible, so that it would weight less?

 

In the meantime I put together a light shield using an old X ray film, bending it to shape and painting it later with black paint, so it would be lighter.

 

So now it is very light and I also balanced it and it seems it did the trick, stars airy disks are round now again and no stray light issues!!!

 

The only problem is that the light shield surface is not perfect like the 3D printed one, and also that it will not slide out when the Vespera arm is closing.

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Edited by kannassee, 03 January 2025 - 02:53 PM.

[GSBass]

I just use an umbrella

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