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Xagyl Filter Wheel Testing

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04/01/2025 - Configured a new (to me) 8-position 1.25" Xagyl filter wheel successfully on the venerable LX10.  The Starizona SCT Corrector III is inserted into the Meade zero-shift micro focuser and then there's spacing for proper back focus to the Svbony 405cc (including the 17mm width of the new filter wheel).  Due to the moon, set up the scheduler to capture a set of light frames of M106 using the dual narrow band (Ha/OIII) filter first followed by a set of light frames using the UV/IR filter.   The key configuration test was setting up the plate solver and auto focus module to utilize the UV/IR filter during those stages...for collection of light frames with the dual narrow band filter (where these steps are extremely hard through the filter itself. Conditions started reasonable with no clouds but the moon at 23% and setting at midnight...but clouds expected near 03:00.  Set up the dual narrow band (mislabeled H_Alpha) first with 120s exposures  Seeing ...

Telescope cleaning & collimation test

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 03/08/2025 -- Cleaned the corrector as well as the primary and secondary mirror on the venerable Meade LX10 SCT. Also cleaned the surfaces on the Svbony Sv405cc, the UV/IR cut filter and the Starizona SCT corrector III using generic lens cleaning wipes (Costco/Amazon) and the ancient lens cleaning kit blower & brush.  Struggled with streaking and dust... but eventually got to a point where improvement was clear (especially for the SCT corrector and the secondary.  Tested outdoors with the OTA reassembled and found major dust / dirt problems were solved.  Tested collimation against a bright 1st magnitude star and found no issues (thankfully). Defocused pattern looked symmetrical.  Tested using AstroDMX-Capture on the Odroid C4 viewed over Remmina RDC client (using the UV/IR cut filter...broad band imaging). Captured the moon and then switched over to the dual narrow-band (OIII, Ha) filter...since the moon is up at 79% all night.  Attempted to get the Ow...