My new set-ups...

[timthelder]

Since the weather turned crappy back in December, I thought I would take advantage of the down time and do a little upgrading...

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I,ve added an express 80 to 'The 9', for use as a guidescope, possibly do some imaging through it as well. Also a 9x50 right angle finder to keep me from getting a crick in my neck. After the upgrades, and weight compensation's, thsi set-up is up to about 100lbs now. So it will DEFINITELY be clear skies when I hug this one up and pack'er outside. Per Rump's suggestion I did doublecheck the collimation straight through the scope, and it's dead on perfect.She's all balanced the way it's supposed to be, and ready to go, just got to line all the optics up.

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This is an entirely 'new to me' set-up. I started out wanting a bit of a 'grab-n-go' scope, and this is what I wound up with, LOL. I started out with the 80 SLT optical tube mounted on The 9, but that was a bit awkward, so In looking fr a mount for the SLT, I found the 100ED, and CG-5, in two seperate auctions. The SLT optical tube is the EXACT same optical tube that Orion is selling for guidescope applications, and as you can see works nicely piggybacked on the 100 ED. I upgraded the focuser assembly on the SLT to a 10:1 crayford, which makes it a very nice scope. Now if I could just get FIRST LIGHT...:crazy:

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After seeing some pic's of the CG-5 mount itself and realizing they looked entirely different than mine, I thought I would post a pic of my mounts. My favourite eyepiece for viewing is an 8.8mm Series 5000 ultra-wide. After doing a rough polar alignment with this mount, it will put the object of my desires in the eyepiece everytime. It is very smooth, not jerky, can be adjusted for backlash, and you can plug your autoguiding system right into it for a little bump-n-nudge.

I'll keep you posted on first light, hopefully with some pic's.

Cheers, :wink:

[Radar]

Awesome Tim. I'll be interested to hear how your mount does for astrophotography work.

Have you done any long exposure work through the 9inch yet?

Ray

[Tenacious Del]

nice scope setups mate. is the 9inch a hyperstar telescope?

[timthelder]

I'll be interested to hear how your mount does for astrophotography work.
Have you done any long exposure work through the 9inch yet?

I don't plan on going anywhere Ray, so you will get to here me whine, gripe, grumble, complain for many fun filled years while I am imaging.:biggrin: So I will definitely keep you posted...The main problem I see with the mount is I won't be able to cross the meridian while I am imaging due to the counterweight shifting balance from east to west.

Long exposure? I have seen hardly anyone exposing for longer than about 15 minutes in any one frame. Actually, combining/stacking 5 to10 minute exposures or using different ISO settings at different exposure length's is what seems to be the most popular. Also seems like film photography is fast taking the wayside as digital image resolution is catching up to film picture resolution.



is the 9inch a hyperstar telescope?


Hi Del, No, it is tempting to convert it, but that would mean it would have to be a dedicated imaging scope, and I like to view through it as well...

The main factor in all this is my spending. It will have to do for now.After having spent approximately $6000.00(including laptop) it's time to halt for a while and enjoy what I have.

[Radar]

I don't plan on going anywhere Ray, so you will get to here me whine, gripe, grumble, complain for many fun filled years while I am imaging.:biggrin:

lol, that's just great :ahh!:



Long exposure? I have seen hardly anyone exposing for longer than about 15 minutes in any one frame. Actually, combining/stacking 5 to10 minute exposures or using different ISO settings at different exposure length's is what seems to be the most popular. Also seems like film photography is fast taking the wayside as digital image resolution is catching up to film picture resolution.


Yeah digital is catching up quick. CCD is so much more sensitive than film already, so what takes me one hour with film only takes 10 - 15 minutes with digital.

Film still appeals to me for some reason, it feels more natural I guess. Polar alignment is always a big task in film photography. I usually drive out to the bush, setup my equipment, then I need to be able to get a polar alignment done as soon as the first stars appear. I align so that there is no drift in dec for at least 45 minutes, this kind of accuracy used to take me hours. I can usually get this level of alignment by the time astronomical twilight is finished. Even with CCD I'd prefer to do longer exposures than shorter ones, but i'm still a noob with CCD and I'm not sure what will work best.

I'll be posting many CCD pics very soon. :wink:

Ray

[Tenacious Del]

if i get my feet wet with astrophotography, i think it will be straight onto ccd. webcam work or something.

[timthelder]

if i get my feet wet with astrophotography, i think it will be straight onto ccd.


Since Meade has upgraded their DSI's to PRO II, and DSI III. The price has really dropped on the first Models. I've seen the plain Meade DSI color for around 150 bucks now and I've seen Celestron's LPI and Meades planetary imager as cheap as $79.95.

I just ordered a peltier cooler for my Meade DSI, to help keep the temp down when it finally gets warmer outside and Orion just mailed me that my autoguider is finally on it's way.:woot: (I've had it ordered since 8th of Dec.)

The Astrodon filters, and OB will have to wait a couple of years(2012,2020?)...seems like I'm always finding something else, that I 'think', I need.:confused: