pn208 facelift

 

The 208mm f3.9 reflector from Explore Scientific. Showing its age. 

Dismantled -there's not much to it- , cleaned mirrors and remove the old silicone sealant. In doing so, destroyed the pads that the mirror sits upon

Anyway, here are the before shots. Terrible gradient. It looks like there is some rogue refection. Or light pollution? Although it was dark and I had a matt-black dew shield. Newtonian telescopes. Who'd have 'em!

histogram stretch to show the gradient

open clusters ngc2158 top with m35 in gemini
veTEC71 on pn208    25x4min @ hcg100

open cluster ngc1857 in auriga
veTEC571 on pn208    7x4min @ hcg100

And one not binned so much: