Hyperbolic Newtonian Astrograph

The latest addition to my imaging complex is a 12 inch f/4.27 Hyperbolic Newtonian Astrograph (HNA).
I really liked the design and performance of the Takahashi Epsilon ED180.
I designed and built this astrograph around Hubble Optics HNA 12 inch sandwich mirror.
It took 3 years to get the project together to spread out the cost.
The mirror comes with a 3.5 inch matching corrector and 3.5 inch secondary mirror.
Supporting the optics is accomplished through a Van Slyke mirror cell and spider.
The tube is a Frank "Rocketman" Uroda 14 inch carbon fiber tube.
Finally, a 3.5 inch Starlight Instrument focuser w/Robofocus completes
the system.
Custom adapters to connect the optics to cameras provided by Precise Parts.
The following images were taken in September/October 2013.
Clouds have reigned since.  (First good clear night last night Feb 16 2014 since Oct 10 2013 and Robofocus
isn't working and it's 20 below zero)
I tried a number of objects just to see what the scope could do.
All images using SBIG STL-11000M w/Baader filters unless otherwise noted





Hubble Optics Hyperbolic Newtonian Astrograph




Butterfly Nebula in Cygnus  (75 minutes Hydrogen Alpha / SBIG STL11000M)



75 minutes Hydrogen Alpha combined with only 30 minutes RGB each.


60 minutes Luminance


Hybrid Image Luminance fron HNA12, LRGB Takahashi ED180

LRGB 60:30:30:30 minutes



Ha:R:G:B  160:40:40:63 minutes  - getting better!




Elephant Nebula  (75 minutes Hydrogen Alpha / SBIG STL11000M)



90 minutes Hydrogen Alpha  Feb 19 2014.




Comparing Resolution - This is a cropped area of the Rosette Nebula showing the difference
in resolution between a 12 inch mirror on the left and a 7.2 inch mirror on the right.
Same design, same camera.
Exposure on left 90 minutes at f/4.27
Exposure on right 3 hours at f/2.85






This is a hybrid image.  150 minutes of Hydrogen Alpha light through the HNA-12
combined with colour information from the Tak ED180.