AstroTasmania
April 22nd, 2007, 07:32 PM
Hi Radar,
I should have posted the reply to your post in the proper place, so here it is, sorry about that.
Hi Radar,
You must have been looking at my main observatory, a 4-metre all rotating structure that I built many years ago.
It is a 12" f/5 Newtonian with all sorts of mods built in and it will eventually be replaced with a 16" on a much bigger mount of much the same design.
The 12" Newtonian carries on one side a Tak Mewlon 210-f/11.5 Dall-Kikham, which is for high mag imaging.
On the opposite side are 4 scopes mainly for solar use, each set up with special attachments & cameras. The Tak FS-102 f/8, f/6 does white light via a Baader Herschel Solar Wedge, The SW 102 f/10 does solar prominences with a Baader Solar Coronograph, and a WO 80SD with a SolarMax BF 10 40mm unit does disc H-alpha. Another scope 800mm f/15 with a Lumicon H-alpha 1.5 Angstrom unit also does H-alpha solar disc,
It carries all the above with no trouble at all. Nothing like self built gear to be over engineered. I enjoy making all this stuff.
Now, the "OctaDome" is a separate observatory under construction only 2.2 metres across flats, 2.5 high walls plus the peak at 45 degrees. It is located nearer the house, and it is to house the multi wide field system scopes on the big Alhena GEM. Tak Epsilon 180ED f2.8 Astrograph, and Meade SN-10 mounted side by side plus 80mm guide scope. The Tak Mewlon may well be transferred to this system for use with the Starlight Express Adaptive Optics and CCD Guider system. It is too inconvenient to keep having to uncover for use and out in the open it is soon dripping wet with dew, not good for all that expensive equipment.
I have a set of Antaries tube rotators for the Tak 180 and a set is on the way for the Meade SN-10. When I have fitted these I can then work out how to fit the Tak Mewlon.
This leaves my EQ6 out in the open as my take anywhere system, it currently carries my new WO 90 APO and the WO Petzval 66.
I have got my modified Canon 350D back from its Baader UV/IR filter and Peltier Cooler conversion. The weather is now 100% cloud cover & fine rain. I have taken normal daylight shots with it but that's all so far.
I should have posted the reply to your post in the proper place, so here it is, sorry about that.
Hi Radar,
You must have been looking at my main observatory, a 4-metre all rotating structure that I built many years ago.
It is a 12" f/5 Newtonian with all sorts of mods built in and it will eventually be replaced with a 16" on a much bigger mount of much the same design.
The 12" Newtonian carries on one side a Tak Mewlon 210-f/11.5 Dall-Kikham, which is for high mag imaging.
On the opposite side are 4 scopes mainly for solar use, each set up with special attachments & cameras. The Tak FS-102 f/8, f/6 does white light via a Baader Herschel Solar Wedge, The SW 102 f/10 does solar prominences with a Baader Solar Coronograph, and a WO 80SD with a SolarMax BF 10 40mm unit does disc H-alpha. Another scope 800mm f/15 with a Lumicon H-alpha 1.5 Angstrom unit also does H-alpha solar disc,
It carries all the above with no trouble at all. Nothing like self built gear to be over engineered. I enjoy making all this stuff.
Now, the "OctaDome" is a separate observatory under construction only 2.2 metres across flats, 2.5 high walls plus the peak at 45 degrees. It is located nearer the house, and it is to house the multi wide field system scopes on the big Alhena GEM. Tak Epsilon 180ED f2.8 Astrograph, and Meade SN-10 mounted side by side plus 80mm guide scope. The Tak Mewlon may well be transferred to this system for use with the Starlight Express Adaptive Optics and CCD Guider system. It is too inconvenient to keep having to uncover for use and out in the open it is soon dripping wet with dew, not good for all that expensive equipment.
I have a set of Antaries tube rotators for the Tak 180 and a set is on the way for the Meade SN-10. When I have fitted these I can then work out how to fit the Tak Mewlon.
This leaves my EQ6 out in the open as my take anywhere system, it currently carries my new WO 90 APO and the WO Petzval 66.
I have got my modified Canon 350D back from its Baader UV/IR filter and Peltier Cooler conversion. The weather is now 100% cloud cover & fine rain. I have taken normal daylight shots with it but that's all so far.