The very first functional test of the ToupTek StellaVita and the first light of my new OSC astro camera, the ToupTek SkyEye24AC.
I don’t know why, but I probably could have chosen a simpler and less demanding target than Messier 96.
Be that as it may, I’m really happy with the result for about 2,5 hours of total exposure time. I’m sure I’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of my new equipment.
The session itself went almost unbelievably smoothly. More details about the initial use and selection of both devices will follow in separate articles.
High-resolution on Astrobin:
The annotated image:
Session details
| Telescope | Vixen VC200L |
|---|---|
| Corrector | intern |
| Effective focal length | 1800 mm |
| Camera | SkyEye24AC |
| Filters | Baader UHC-L CMOS Optimized 50,4mm |
| Mount | Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro Hypertuned |
| Guiding equipment | APM 240mm |
| Guiding camera | QHY 5-III-462C |
| Date of capture | 2026-03-16 |
| Exposure (lights) | UHC: 30 × 300 s |
| Total integration | 2 h 30 min |
| Calibration frames | FLATS, DARKS |
| Sensitivity | GAIN 100, Offset 125 |
| Capture setup | StellaVita |
| Processing date | 2026-03-17 |
| Software stack | PixInsight, Affinity Photo |
| Location | Koblenz |
| Focal ratio | f/9,0 |
| Image scale | 0,68 ″/px |
| Field of view | 68,7 × 45,8 ′ |
