Veloce 200 Namibia Status

lukas_demetz

Just a quick info: After some issue with the roof motor of the Veloce in Namibia, the issue has been resolved. The scope is back operating.

lukas_demetz

Current tilt issues:

Also, please avoid using O3 filter as it creates strong halos.

lukas_demetz

For the records, I am planning to spend a longer time in May 2021 to work on the issues of the Veloce.

First, to sort out halos and odd arcs found in the images osmetimes we will:

Test the system without filters
Swap a few filters with newer Astrodons and Baaders (not all; but definitively O3)
Remove the S2 filter (as it is the least used one) and insert instead a "black" filter to be finally able to create darks and flats anytime we want
Look for any surface in the lightpath that could cause reflections, and darken it (will carry velours tape and paint with me). I strongly suspect the dew shield to be the culprit. Let's see if we can do anything there

Then, of course, the almost mythical collimation / orthogonality of the Veloce will be the priority. I will have more time and support from OS (hopefully) this time to tackle it once and for all.

lukas_demetz

Ah one more thing: You will notice that the data from the veloce in Namibia has a black stripe both left and bottom of the image:

it's the "calibration" pixels of the CMOS. Basically those are supposed to be covered ina way to get no light at all. I plan to deactivate them in may, so that stacking becomes way easier than what it used to be until now 🙂