By the end of 2011 I understood the image capture mechanics with my chosen equipment and image post-processing well enough to have a routine for objects within grasp. Prospects for this year were to recapture objects more diligently, try new objects and object types, experiment with new image processing techniques and consider additional gear to improve object selection and imaging outcomes having set an initial 3-stage plan in mid-2010 that envisaged this in early-mid 2012.

I was fortunate to be able to borrow alternative Optical Tube Assembley's (OTA) from friends made since I started this journey to test out ideas for my next OTA, these being:
- Jean-Marie Locci's PowerNewt 200mm f/2.84 Carbon Fibre Newtonian Reflector (f/4 native) in December 2011 and July 2012
- Stephen Boyd's Bintel (GSO) 200mm f/4 Steel Tube Newtonian Reflector from April 2012 I did a direct comparison of these and my 80mm APO across 3 nights - see 22/6/12, 11/7/12 and 13/7/12.

I acquired a second hand Baader Multipurpose Coma Corrector (MPCC) that worked very well with both the f/4 8" Newtonians. I also found that the 2X Televue 2" PowerMate worked quite well, despite doubling the f ratio to f/8 (increasing exposures by 4X) and being more difficult to focus and maintain focus with temperature change. I revisited using the 2X PowerMate, now correclty, with the 80mm Apogee APO with greater success than in early 2011 when I bought it.

By late 2012, with the much appreciated continued use of Stephen's 8" f/4, I began to consider utilising narrow band filters and to consider Off Axis Guiding (OAG) as a best next step to get more out of what I had already purchased rather than just moving to a larger and faster aperture. My reasoning was that firstly, a faster and larger aperture still has to contend with the suburban skyglow even if the image definition is better; narrow-band filters address this. Secondly, that the Skywatcher NEQ6 mount when used in the field has a realistic upper load limit of 15Kg to work well, hence the added weight of a side-by-side mounting and guide scope 'eats into' the maximum weight and hence aperture of the imaging OTA; Off Axis Guiding (OAG) has the potential to reduce the weight burden for guiding. My rationale is that if I can master OAG, then perhaps a 10" f/4 Carbon Fibre Newtonian will be a possible next step and at 1000m focal length better suitable to my current interest in narrow field deep sky objects.

OAG comes with a new set of issues however. They add weight to the focuser load and to the length of the light path which with a Canon EOS DSLR already consuming 44mm to lens flange or 55mm with a standard 11mm EOS T-Adapter leaves no room for an OAG when using a Baader MPCC and many similar simple Coma correctors that target 55mm back focus to the imaging sensor. I decided in October to buy a Baader Rowe Coma Corrector (RCC) as these have 91.5mm back focus from male T2 leaving an additional 36.5mm, or 47.5mm if standard 11mm EOS T-Adapter is replaced, for other equipment such as an OAG and filter changer. This plan however was not so simple either! The focus point required for the RCC at the focuser moves inward by ~25mm which in the case of the Bintel (GSO) f/4 is inside the minimum height of the focuser in its stock position. Whilst the RCC has a removable 48mm collar (3mm thick), that when removed permits it to be inserted inside the focuser, this reduces the usable extra path length for OAG and filters by 22mm, partly defeating my purpose for the RCC! The options are to move the main mirror forward by ~25mm with potential secondary mirror vignetting or replace the stock focuser with a lower profile one, perhaps all good and well when you own the scope! Alternatively is 25.5mm sufficient for an OAG and filter solution?

I decided in early Dec 2012 to go with a low profile OAG from Teleskop Services in Germany, the TS-OAG9 (~11.2mm) with a low profile T2-EOSs adapter of length (~1mm) giving ~56mm back focus to Field Flattener of Coma Corrector, and defer a decision on a filter approach. I also purchased a relatively cheap GSO 2" Coma Corrector which has ~70mm back focus, and forums indicate ~10mm inward focus point, as an alternative to experiment with. In addition I purchased a Starlight Xpress Superstar CCD based guide camera with increased sensitivity over the Orion CMOS based SSAG I had been using and that had failed in November 2012 due to loss of EEPROM programming! The OAG outcome and a fix for the SSAG EEPROM as a QHY5 continued through to April 2013 (see 2013 gallery).

Unless stated otherwise, images are from my home location in Willetton, 12 Km south of the centre of Perth, Western Australia.

My favourites shots can also be found on AstroBin http://www.astrobin.com/users/scottastrophe