First Light with my new Orion 8" Ritchey Chretien Astrograph Telescope

[@woody5109]

Great video, I’m in.

[@AZ4Runner]

Thanks Woody!!

[@deltacx1059]

It's nuts how expensive those plastic telescope sheds are.

[@AZ4Runner]

it is but, they sure do help setup time. basically just turn on the gear, cool the camera and start imaging.

[@davidjennings2733]

Very Nice indeed... Thanks for sharing.

[@AZ4Runner]

Thanks David, thanks for watching!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Congrats on being all setup with the RC8! Looking good so far!

[@AZ4Runner]

Thanks Chuck, I'm looking forward to next Galaxy season..

[@DaveUrbanAstro]

Great first light for your RC8! Still working to get my RC6 collimated, it is painful! I can imagine that by now you have it dialed in and are creating some great images! Clear Skies!

[@AZ4Runner]

I've never collimated the RC yet.... and I am dreading the day.

[@donaldmartin7109]

very nice. Hope I can get some good pics like you did. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas. Thank you.

[@AZ4Runner]

I'm sure you will. Thanks for watching and Merry Christmas!

[@jamesbillingsley8436]

Glad to see you got your RC and got the initial first light alignments completed. Very nice images on M16 and M27. I wish I had your determination to work through the heat in Yuma summers. Way to go!!

[@AZ4Runner]

I did it when we had the cool spell come thru.. I think it was only 96 at midnight!!!!! Clear skies James!!!

[@JoesAstrophoto]

Glad to see you got your RC8 up and going my friend! You must be really excited! Looking forward to many more images.

[@AZ4Runner]

yes, all the bugs worked out and ready for some more serious imaging sessions once the weather clears and it cools off a bit...

[@kevinhaynes9091]

Always nice to see the venerable ST80...

[@AZ4Runner]

I love my ST80!!! it is a great Guidescope. Clear skies.

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Always fancied an RC scope but never had one as yet, you got some nice images from it & I love shooting the dumbbell nebula as the star field is gorgeous with all the different coloured stars.

[@AZ4Runner]

This has been a scope that I have wanted for years. finally was able to pull the trigger but had to wait about 4 months from purchase before it was in my hands. I will be using this next Galaxy season for sure. clear skies

[@mikeharden7904]

Jason, thanks for the video. Question. I use a guide scope for both my refractors. Most recommended OAG for longer focal lengths like your RC. You used a guidescope instead of an OAG. Did it work well. No elongated stars? Is there a reason for using the guidescope? Simplicity maybe? Thanks, Mike

[@AZ4Runner]

Thanks for watching Mike. I use guide scopes on all my setups. I know many recommend OAGs but I would say use what is most comfortable for you. Since I got the new pier setup, I've been averaging anywhere from .40 to .60 total RMS with my guiding and this setup, which for me is great. Stars are round with only a slight elongation near the edges, but I think that might be a collimation issue. I do plan maybe eventually to go the OAG route but for now it works. I guess I use the guide scope on the RC because I have it and it is working. CS

[@mikeharden7904]

Tried to use the OAG on my Celestron 8. Had a lot of trouble. Mounted a guide scope and it works well. Not as accurate as on the shorter length refractors but no elongated stars. And as you said, I'm more comfortable with the guidescope. Thanks

[@AZ4Runner]

@@mikeharden7904 agreed! as long as it is working for you, that's what counts.

[@DSOImager]

Congrats on getting the RC8 up and running. M16 & M27 looked great. Lots of potential with this setup :)

[@AZ4Runner]

Thanks for the kind words James, I'm super excited for what this scope will allow me to image now.. Clear skies Sir.

[@Dudleydogg]

How big is the Guide Scope?

[@AZ4Runner]

it is a 80mm Short tube refractor. It has a focal length of 400mm f/5.

[@eliotrose6980]

It looks like you are on target for getting some very nice images with this scope!

[@AZ4Runner]

I hope so Eliot!!! Loving your non astro stuff too....

[@OlliesSpace]

Hey Jason good to see you getting started with the new scope. I noticed how you said the mount made it a slightly different height for Polaris, there always seems to be something in this hobby! Your guiding is looking pretty good, I'm hoping to maybe try setting up with the new 150pds tonight, we've finally got a clear night. I thought M27 was looking really cool, looking forward to seeing how you go with this new scope, love your observatory! Cheers Ollie.

[@AZ4Runner]

yes, the Atlas mount head sits lower than the Sirius Mount with the legs at the shortest position. I could have extended the legs to raise it but then I would have lost room to walk around in the Observatory. (I need to get a pier!! :)) I was really suprised with the guiding as well since the Sirius mount is only Rated to 30lbs. Good luck with the 150pds, looking forward to your next video. Clear skies Ollie.

[@syberand]

Hi, still using the RC8, if so or not, long term thoughts on it?

[@AZ4Runner]

It has been about a year. I think I got it last July. I really do love the scope. I have not had to collimate it yet, but I do think it will have to be done soon. I've gotten nice closeups of NGC7023, NGC6888, M27 and others. I primarily got it for Galaxies, and I am in the process of shooting a couple. I love the compactness over a regular refractor and the fact that a coma corrector is not needed. I will be purchasing a Reducer to make it a bit fast and bring down the focal length a bit. But all in all I can't really complain. Maybe I'll do a more in depth follow up at 1year.

[@syberand]

@@AZ4Runner Sounds like an RC8 will be my next toy. Thanks for the followup

[@Erniej270]

NINA (the nightly build version) has plugins. One of the plug-ins is 3 point polar alignment. You don’t need to see Polaris to polar align. Might be worth looking into.

[@AZ4Runner]

Thanks for the suggestion.. I'll look into that. Thanks for watching & clear skies

[@tamartin7001]

Hi from the Southern Hemisphere (Australia). I have the 6" RC (also made by GSO as is yours) and I think you have the better sized OTA. Getting focus has been a problem, and this seems to be common with RC OTAs. NO problem on the HEQ5 Pro at around 9 kilos load all up. Collimation was interesting, used a Baader laser collimator, with an Orion centering holder, and that gives a reasonable end result. In the 6" RC from GSO, the laser is just visible on the reflection of the secondary mirror, but I think that is not possible with the 8" RC. Thanks for your video!

[@AZ4Runner]

Hello TA!! thanks for watching.. so Far I've really enjoyed the 8"RC. I haven't yet had to collimate it. When deciding to purchase, I went back and forth between the 6" and 8" but ultimatley chose the 8".. Hopefully next galaxy season, I'll have some nice images to share. Clear skies..

[@AstroEverett]

Jason I never would’ve thought that that was rated for 40 pounds. I have a CGEM1 and it’s rated for 40 pounds and it looks a lot more beefier than yours. Great first light video.

[@AZ4Runner]

So I was going to run it on my Atlas which is rated for up to 40lbs, But I ran it on my Sirius mount which is rated for 30lbs. I've run it on both with out issues. running it on the Sirius does push the mount a bit but I've found that with the Sirius mount loaded up it actually guides better. I think the Sirius is equiv to a Skywatcher HEQ5 and the Atlas is Equiv to the HEQ6. Thanks for the comment and watching Everett!!

[@Youtuber-ku4nk]

How does one chose between Schmidt-cassegrain and RC? Or why would you chose either over a newt since it has a smaller center obstruction?

[@AZ4Runner]

Good question, a SCT has a corrector plate that can dew up for one, RC's and Newt do not. Although the RC has a larger secondary obstruction it has pair hyperbolic mirrors thus eliminating the need for a Coma corrector like a newt would. another thing to consider would be the Focal length and focal ratio. Another thing about the RC is that it is made specifically for Astrophotography unlike the SCTs and Newts which are also used visually. The one thing that steered me to the RC over a newt was the position of the focuser and the ability to balance easier. Thanks for watching.

[@explorelearnshare8222]

Very nice results! Does this mean you aren’t going to be driving out to the desert anymore? Was hoping to maybe meet you out there sometime this winter...

[@AZ4Runner]

Oh no, still prefer the desert Bortle 2 skies over my backyard anynight. Once temps cool down we'll be back out.. Thanks for watching.

[@chemtrail_brew_Que]

Curious, how secure it the observatory? Would it keep thieves out?

[@AZ4Runner]

The observatiry has a locking door and the dome locks from the inside too. It is pretty secure. clear skies..

[@nikulsuthar]

Excellent setup... One question about your observatory... Do you leave your imaging rig including the cameras and optical tubes inside the observatory during the daytime as well in summer months? If yes then do you have any air conditioning applied inside your observatory? I live in North Phoenix and my RASA 11 is too big and heavy to setup and tear down every night...

[@AZ4Runner]

Usually in the summer months I bring everything inside. unfortunately I do not have any cooling inside my observatory. I do leave my mount in the Obs in the winter time but still bring in the camera and OTA. (the Arizona dust finds it way into everything - as I'm sure you are aware). Occasionally I will leave everything outside setup if I am doing a multiple night session and the weather cooperates. Thanks for watching.... Clear skies!