Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  IC 4277  ·  IC 4278  ·  M 51  ·  NGC 5194  ·  NGC 5195  ·  Whirlpool Galaxy
Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M51 Cropped ~ A 2nd Test with the Meade SN10, Jay Hovnanian
Powered byPixInsight

M51 Cropped ~ A 2nd Test with the Meade SN10

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M51 Cropped ~ A 2nd Test with the Meade SN10, Jay Hovnanian
Powered byPixInsight

M51 Cropped ~ A 2nd Test with the Meade SN10

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

Once again, a threat of clouds kept me in my Bortle-6 driveway last night.  Clear skies afforded me about two hours to set up and continue in testing my recently acquired new/old Meade SN10 Schmidt-Newtonian.  My first test rendered spiky stars, so I loosened the mirror clamps - they barely touch now.  Transparency was fair and no wind; the mount was level, the scope 3D balanced on both axes, dead-on collimation, and a polar alignment 47" from the NCP.  Still, though, wonky stars.  The only other factor I can think of is tilt (as a result of slightly undersized M48 extension pieces that slide into the TS-Optics Monorail 2" focuser).  I can think of a fix for that.  Qualified commentary is welcome.  Otherwise, the scope (so far) is showing itself capable of decency.  Even so, I am hoping for better ....

Comments

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

M51 Cropped ~ A 2nd Test with the Meade SN10, Jay Hovnanian