My Setup

[Radar]

Here is my current setup.

I had a few tonnes of concrete poured into the backgarden to make an observing pad. Then I stuck two Piers on the slab (one has power).

One pier is for my Losmandy G11 and the other pier is for my Meade LX50 which sits on a Milburn wedge (great wedge).

I use a Takahashi Epsilon E160 on the G11. I still shoot film and have just got into autoguiding with an ST4.

I live in a light polluted area, so when I want to take some decent photos, I have to pack everything into the car and go bush.

I want to upgrade to an STV or get another laptop, so that I can monitor dec drift when I go bush. Otherwise an entire night of autoguiding could be wasted. My current laptop doesn't have a serial connector.

You can see in the second photo how I have used shade cloth to damp out the neighbours outside lights (which they feel should be on most of the night). The shadecloth made a huge difference. Though a dome would solve all my problems.

20

21

22

[MikeinCanada]

Hello, I am Mike (in Canada)

I too have concrete and a pier out back of the house.
I use a Celestron Nexstar 11 GPS and ED80 combo,
with an STV autoguider and seveal CCD setups, none of
which has given me the enjoument or wide field shots
of my Canon Digital Rebel XT.

I hope to have some fun on your website.

Please feel free to visit my club;s web site at:

www.amateurastronomy.org

- Mike

[Radar]

Hi Mike,

How accurate is the stv lcd screen? What I mean is, if the star were to drift slightly, is it easy to tell via the lcd, or would pluggin it into a laptop be better?
:hmm:

[Red Giant]

Nice setup Radar. That is similar to what I want to do with my place.

[Radar]

It took a while to convince the girlfriend, but it worked out well. The observing pad, has also become the sun bake pad. :Chessy_Smile:

[RSW]

You are doing okay with two piers Radar :thumbsupmate: I'm still draggin my tripod and scope out the hard way; it is such as effort. :duh:

[CanisMajorTom]

Setting up a heavy telescope everytime you want to look at something sure takes the fun out of things.

Converting your backgarden or getting a dome is a great way to go. I hope to be there soon one way or another.

[AstroTasmania]

Because our 5-acre block is an odd shape and with various slopes and no level sections, I have in-ground piers dotted around the place so that I can access east or west low down depending on what I want to see/image. I made them with a standard top so that I can just carry an EQ6 head our of the main dome where it is stored, and set it up in a few minutes. This is also worthwhile with a single pier in the garden to save lugging out the whole box & dice each time. It also means that the pier top is level and ready aligned to make setup quicker and more accurate.

I got some odd lengths of stainless tube 5" dia and used stainless steam pipe flanges as the flat tops, just welded on. These are weather proof and do not rust, no maintenance required. Check out a local scrapyard/plumbing supplies etc.

Regards

Shevill

[Radar]

Your house sounds like a fun park for astronomers. :thumbsupmate:

[CanisMajorTom]

I have in-ground piers dotted around the place so that I can access east or west low down depending on what I want to see/image.

Very nice. I would prefer piers in my backgarden than plants and trees anytime :Chessy_Smile:

[Radar]

Ultimately I would prefer to be in the country. At the moment though, I use a light pollution reduction filter when shooting film from my suburban backyard, and it makes a huge difference.

LPR's are worth the investment if you live with light pollution :thumbsupmate:

[Astrolounge]

very nice Radar great set-up, anything that makes set up easier has to be a good thing.