An adaptor was designed and constructed to permit a Medium Format Pentax Takumar 150mm f/2.8 camera lens to be interfaced to a Finger Lakes CFW1 filter wheel (5 x 50mm filters) and a Finger Lakes DF2 Digital Focuser. The system is designed to permit either an SBIG STx or a Finger Lakes IMG series CCD camera to be used for the imager.
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First Astro Images (Aug 4, 2004). These were the first astronomical images taken with the new system. First examinations of them shows elongated stars in the lower right corner of the images. Initial thoughts are the elongations are due to tilt of the camera lens away from the optical axis. All images below taken at f/4. Next steps will be to provide a "tilting adjustment" for the lens.
IC1318 (Halpha)
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One exposure of 10 minutes through Hydrogen Alpha filter (f/4)
Cocoon Nebula with dark tail
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One exposure of 10 minutes through Hydrogen Alpha filter (f/4)
IC1396
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One exposure of 10 minutes through Hydrogen Alpha filter (f/4)
Veil Nebula
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One exposure of 10 minutes through Hydrogen Alpha filter (f/4)
NGC7000 + IC5070
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Two exposures of 10 minutes through Hydrogen Alpha filter (f/4)
M8 / M20 region
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One exposure of 20 minutes through Hydrogen Alpha filter (f/4)