Anything bigger than two thousand millimeter focal length becomes just a serious challenge for astrophotography. The mount should be turned to the perfection. An error of more than 8 arc minutes in polar alignment is just unforgiven. A small breeze and the whole thing is out. Even with my Newtonian 10mm. Just imagine a 14 mm.
Hi Ray. Thank you for the great videos. I'm a newbie with the c14 and am trying to figure which dovetail bar you have mounted on top of the OTA. I'm looking for something that will enhance maneuverability (thus safety) when I move the OTA from obsyervatory pier to a cem120 tri-pier 360, and which will allow the addition of the sort of accessories you have mounted. My interest is primarily to enable me to reduce risk when I move the OTA. Any advice you can give would be welcome.
Extraordinary Ray! When I saw the thumbnail, I saw a dragon. I can't unsee it. Did you ever in your dreams think about seeing what you are looking at now? It's been such a joy having been with you for this exquisite journey 💫 Looking forward to what's to come!
Thanks Lori! I was seeing the same dragon. It's been a never ending journey with this Astronomy. I am excited to see myself how the next step turns out!!
Intresting video, thanks Ray. I am doing a similar experiement with my C14. What length exposures did you take? My exposures will be unguided but with a very sharp polar alignment. I have learnt that 120 subs of 30 seconds at 4000mm FL can give just as pleasing photos as 12 subs of 5 minutes using guiding.
@@RaysAstrophotography Cheers Ray. Under really good conditions, I was able to get round stars at 30 seconds on my CPC1100 alt az mount, using native FL of 2800. So I'm hoping that with C14 Edge using its .7 foca l reducer, which will take it down close to 2700mm FL on my CGXL mount, that I might be able to get 50 - 60 seconds unguided under very good conditions. I am also experimenting with plate solving using relatively long focal lengths ( 1500+) and I've found it works fine as long as the initial exposures are around 15 seconds at 1600 ISO (I use DSLRs). Plate solving has been a game changer for me in acquiring and centering / framing large but faint targets. Clear skies and I hope you're enjoing your observatory :)
Native FL on the Edge scopes is actually pretty nice for deep sky. I image at f/10 with my Edge 9.25 (2350mm) and I'm getting very good results. I have the .7x reducer, but I've never been able to get good stars in the corners with it. Don't even have to go nuts with exposure time either because of these modern CMOS sensors. I think this is what scares people about native FL. I'm using the 2400MC Pro with my setup (also full frame, pixels are 5.94). FOV is still very good--can almost fit M33 completely in the frame. At 3910mm, I can imagine guiding is a little more challenging, especially at .20" pixel resolution. Trifid taking up a lot of real estate on that QHY600, gotta love focal length. Observatory looking good, thanks for the tour in your previous video.
Thanks Phil! I was very scared with amount of DSo details on the sensor. I was worried weather I have enough stars to stack. This new attempt is a great success. At a full frame (even though the back focus is nailed) not all the stars in the Edges are round. I need to crop at least 20 percent. But it is a huge image size anyway.
I'm curious. Are you binning at all? Unless you're doing lucky imaging or have amazing seeing conditions (sub arc second) I'm not sure that 3900 mm focal length does anything for you. For that camera, at that focal length you're cramming 5 pixels across every arc second. So even at 1 arc second seeing conditions you could double bin and lose nothing. Most days you could probably triple bin (or double bin with a reducer) and lose nothing.
My first DSO's was with a 8SE optical tube using an AVX mount. So many things need to be perfect. Keep working at it, can't wait to see a color final image one day when the clouds cooperate!
g`day ray i think mission accomplished the guiding looks great the focusing looks great too hope to see more than a test pic with the big girl soon... i hope clear skies are coming to you soon mate , but you know the drill mate.. new gear means clouds for a week lol its sods law great video cheers james D
Hi Ray, I have the little brother of the C14, the C11, and would LOVE to get an image as clear as what you just showed. Yes, it is very difficult to image DSO with such a long focal length. I was amazed at how round the smaller stars were with some down-to-pinpoint size! I never got an image like that on the C11, but now I can dream. - Patrick -
I don't know if that was the eagle you were referring to, but if it was, then I saw it 😁 but I don't know how to describe it lol 🤣😅😂 hooooooow I envy you Ray your telescopes are sooooo beautiful. If I had one, I would have had sleepless nights for the rest of my life lol 😂😅🤣 👍🌌🌃🔭🪐🌠
Anything bigger than two thousand millimeter focal length becomes just a serious challenge for astrophotography. The mount should be turned to the perfection. An error of more than 8 arc minutes in polar alignment is just unforgiven. A small breeze and the whole thing is out. Even with my Newtonian 10mm. Just imagine a 14 mm.
You mean inches, not mm
@@luboinchina3013
Ya exactly👍
It is difficult to get perfection with C14. It took 2 years. Thanks!
I wouldn't even ponder attempting it without hyperstar.
your mind is not freed enough, and you need a Losmandy G11T mount or better. I do it all the time.
Hi Ray. Thank you for the great videos. I'm a newbie with the c14 and am trying to figure which dovetail bar you have mounted on top of the OTA. I'm looking for something that will enhance maneuverability (thus safety) when I move the OTA from obsyervatory pier to a cem120 tri-pier 360, and which will allow the addition of the sort of accessories you have mounted. My interest is primarily to enable me to reduce risk when I move the OTA. Any advice you can give would be welcome.
Great photos with your Edge !
Extraordinary Ray! When I saw the thumbnail, I saw a dragon. I can't unsee it. Did you ever in your dreams think about seeing what you are looking at now? It's been such a joy having been with you for this exquisite journey 💫 Looking forward to what's to come!
Thanks Lori! I was seeing the same dragon. It's been a never ending journey with this Astronomy. I am excited to see myself how the next step turns out!!
Nice Ray, that's a lot of awesome detail on the Trifid, especially compared to the wide-field picture I just captured of this area.
Thanks Chuck! Yes..I am in love with those details
Thanks! Ray Looking forward to more of your pictures!🔭
Sure Brent! I have 3 projects happening right now
Nicely done. Looking forward for the next job.Clear Skies.
Thanks SirMeowcelot! I totally agree. This one is behind us.
I love your videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge about Telescopes and Astrophotography. Take care.
Excellent job Ray. Keep up the inspiration. CS & GB!
Thanks SoDak! It is always interesting with Astronomy
What are you using to get to the full 146.05 back focus?
Intresting video, thanks Ray. I am doing a similar experiement with my C14. What length exposures did you take?
My exposures will be unguided but with a very sharp polar alignment. I have learnt that 120 subs of 30 seconds at 4000mm FL can give just as pleasing photos as 12 subs of 5 minutes using guiding.
Thanks Holloman! those images were 60 seconds. Ideal image exposure depends on the mount, sky conditions, your sky etc..you know the drill.
@@RaysAstrophotography Cheers Ray. Under really good conditions, I was able to get round stars at 30 seconds on my CPC1100 alt az mount, using native FL of 2800. So I'm hoping that with C14 Edge using its .7 foca l reducer, which will take it down close to 2700mm FL on my CGXL mount, that I might be able to get 50 - 60 seconds unguided under very good conditions. I am also experimenting with plate solving using relatively long focal lengths ( 1500+) and I've found it works fine as long as the initial exposures are around 15 seconds at 1600 ISO (I use DSLRs). Plate solving has been a game changer for me in acquiring and centering / framing large but faint targets. Clear skies and I hope you're enjoing your observatory :)
Haha that's so cool! To think you can see all this in your backyard! It totally resembles a Phoenix/dragon. I still love the pillars of creation
Thanks DN! We will definitely go back to Pillars of Creation.
My my Ray
It's amazing only you can do this
Fabulous
All the best
Thanks Kirit! Other than people who got remote observatories and professional people installing, for normal folks this a big deal!!
Native FL on the Edge scopes is actually pretty nice for deep sky. I image at f/10 with my Edge 9.25 (2350mm) and I'm getting very good results. I have the .7x reducer, but I've never been able to get good stars in the corners with it. Don't even have to go nuts with exposure time either because of these modern CMOS sensors. I think this is what scares people about native FL. I'm using the 2400MC Pro with my setup (also full frame, pixels are 5.94). FOV is still very good--can almost fit M33 completely in the frame. At 3910mm, I can imagine guiding is a little more challenging, especially at .20" pixel resolution. Trifid taking up a lot of real estate on that QHY600, gotta love focal length. Observatory looking good, thanks for the tour in your previous video.
Thanks Phil! I was very scared with amount of DSo details on the sensor. I was worried weather I have enough stars to stack. This new attempt is a great success. At a full frame (even though the back focus is nailed) not all the stars in the Edges are round. I need to crop at least 20 percent. But it is a huge image size anyway.
I'm curious. Are you binning at all? Unless you're doing lucky imaging or have amazing seeing conditions (sub arc second) I'm not sure that 3900 mm focal length does anything for you. For that camera, at that focal length you're cramming 5 pixels across every arc second. So even at 1 arc second seeing conditions you could double bin and lose nothing. Most days you could probably triple bin (or double bin with a reducer) and lose nothing.
Hello sir
Your setup all high quality and prices
Awesome 🙏🧡
That's what happens when you keep working on these things.
My first DSO's was with a 8SE optical tube using an AVX mount. So many things need to be perfect. Keep working at it, can't wait to see a color final image one day when the clouds cooperate!
For sure. I need definitely some clear nights
g`day ray i think mission accomplished the guiding looks great the focusing looks great too hope to see more than a test pic with the big girl soon... i hope clear skies are coming to you soon mate , but you know the drill mate.. new gear means clouds for a week lol its sods law
great video
cheers
james D
LOL that's right with that gear clear skies are distant future. Waiting eagerly to put it for a full test
Fabulous photo ray. Very Hubble style!
Thanks DSH! I like the nice details coming out of it. Only thing is I jinxed the skies
With colors..awesome.
Yes...I can't wait. Thanks Ercuta!
Superb Ray
Thanks Mihir! That was a while ago
Hi Ray, you have the beatifull hardware
Thanks Franco!
WOW IM EXCITED FOR YOU AND THE PUBLIC LIKE ME CONGRADULATIONS CANT WAIT FOR YOUR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORK
Thanks VC!
Hi Ray,
I have the little brother of the C14, the C11, and would LOVE to get an image as clear as what you just showed. Yes, it is very difficult to image DSO with such a long focal length. I was amazed at how round the smaller stars were with some down-to-pinpoint size! I never got an image like that on the C11, but now I can dream.
- Patrick -
Thanks Pat! It is very difficult to take pictures with C14. I tried various setups. Finally the new setup is good enough
Very interesting work:)
Thanks Sam!
Nice job
Thanks!
I don't know if that was the eagle you were referring to, but if it was, then I saw it 😁 but I don't know how to describe it lol 🤣😅😂 hooooooow I envy you Ray your telescopes are sooooo beautiful. If I had one, I would have had sleepless nights for the rest of my life lol 😂😅🤣 👍🌌🌃🔭🪐🌠
I did fell in love with Astronomy that way May!!
@@RaysAstrophotography 😀👍💯🌷
👍💫
Thanks 👍
Thanks Ray. I did see an eagle.
Yeah.. it's like lifting something up kinda feeling
wow beautiful, 5,000 euros, pfff, Thank you
LOL thanks. The complete C14 new system today is close to 25000 Euros, pfff
@@RaysAstrophotography thank you for your message, I like it, I am pension, and every day, I like to monitor