SKY-WATCHER ESPRIT 80ED FIRST LIGHT

M42
M42 region

The weather this winter has been awful. However, I managed a first test with my new Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED (80mm f/5) triplet refractor telescope on Monday 17th of February. Very satisfied with the ease of use and sharp picture quality, at least compared to my vintage Meade 2080 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Not so satisfied with the quality of the stars. The six diffraction spikes from each star suggested pinched optics. After this first test I have loosened he tight lens construction of the telescope and a brief test suggests much improvement in the photographic quality of the stars. Waiting for the next clear night to show the results. In the meantime, this first light image have to suffice (quite OK, particularly considering the city arena lights being switched on fully below the object and a rising moon…)

M42

M42
M42
M42, M43 cropped
M42, M43 cropped

2014-02-17 20:30-23:30
Mostly clear, some wind, rising moon, -1 degrees C

M42
Exposures:
20x180s LIGHT
10x120s LIGHT
20x60s LIGHT
20x30s LIGHT
20x180s DARK
20 BIAS
20 FLAT

Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO400
Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope
Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight