Moon, up close(r) - First Light/Test run with the C11 - Archimedes, Copernicus, Ptolemaeus-Alphonsus-Arzachel

For months, I had the newly delivered C11 scope towering behind me in the house. But apart from a quick snapshot of the moon with the Canon R camera through the window, and kitting the scope with some accessories like an EAF, OAG, filter holder, Cooled camera, it wasn’t really ‘operational’.

Limited by its heavy weight, big size and cumbersome setup to bring the scope outside, I kept on postponing to haul this towering massive scope, tripod and hauling platform outside (A bit similar like the Artemis rocket on its platform, actually - keep on holding that thought in comparison).

In particular because it would not be easy and swift to bring the rocket (sorry, scope, getting carried away here) back inside, should a sudden rain shower drift in from the horizon … Until I managed to buy the proper cover (Telegizmos 365) that would allow for the needed protection of the electronics and scope.

Start of the summer, I managed to scoop the one remaining item in stock at the supplier, and after pulling all my courage together (and more appropriately, all my muscle), I finally brought the scope out of its construction hangar (ie. House) and on to the open launch pad (ie. Garden) … All 160 kg of it …

One night, I just couldn’t resist, and after launching my two other scopes on their nightly trajectory, I spend some time familiarising myself with the C11. Fuelling it with the power for the mount and camera, getting the polar alignment right with the CGX-L mount, setting up the GPS and time/date on the mount, getting into focus with the EAF, etc … A couple of trials in pointing at the selected objects in the sky … with the usual cable-snag issues …

Until finally the launch decision was made, with the moon as its target …
5, 4, 3 - ignition, 2, 1 … and we have lift off, the scope swerving through the dark night air … dead center towards the moon

The first moment after I had pointed at the moon, I thought something was wrong with the coordinates or the focus, because I could only see a faint black plane on the image of the camera, but then I realised I was right in the middle of one of the Mare, so close, flabbergasted at the sheer magnification of what I was seeing on the screen. In the background I heard a big thud, like something hitting to the floor … my jaw dropping in amazement and heart jumping in enthousiasm in finally having the scope ‘operational’ … at least in part.

I did a quick run of three locations on the moon, forgetting to check the focus in my enthousiasm before clouds came covering the moon. The scope was set up for DSO, so not the right camera nor filter for the moon, but this does give me a glimpse of what I can expect of this scope in the future.

My first man on the moon, my first steps, my first light … Artemis may not have launched, but I am on my way ... and this time to stay and learn more about the moon

Three simple images, straight stacking and sharpening, focus not 100%, and with L-Enhance filter

Mare Imbrium (part) and Archimedes Crater
Copernicus Crater
Ptolemaeus Alphonsus Arzachel Crater, with the straight wall squeezing in (partly)

C11 EHD, ASI183MC Pro, CGX-L, L-Enhance
Photons: 1080p, 5ms Gain 262, 150s video, 20% stacked, 3x
AutoStakkert, PixInsight
20220819 03:11 cedt

These images aren’t perfect, first steps never are, but as the first 3 images I took through this scope … they look perfect to me.
Can’t wait to get this scope fully operational 🤩

Clear Skies everybody! 🤩✨🔭

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