| Orion Optics (UK), SPX250/4.8 newt on a pier mounted Mountain Instruments MI-250 w/ Starlight SXV-H9, FLI filter wheel (Astronomic LHaRGB filters), Orion (US) ST80 piggybacked guide scope w/ SXV guide cam. This setup is used for "moderate sized" DSO photography, generally galaxies. |
| The Equipment that I Use |
The photo to the right shows the new planetary imaging train (as
of Oct 1, 2007). I've replaced the dual usb1 Atik webcams with a
usb2 Lumenera Skynyx camera and filter wheel (Astronomik type2
LRGB , NIR & Schuler UV filters), added a right angle "flip mirror"
to help with getting the planet framed on the ccd (very difficult
with nothing but the 7X50 finder on the Mewlon, and the telescope
at an effective focal length of 10000mm), a disperion corrector (for
work below 45 deg el.) or equivalent length spacer, and a X2
barlow. The extension from barlow to ccd provides a multiplication
of X3.33, giving me the eFL of 10000mm (FR of f/40).
of Oct 1, 2007). I've replaced the dual usb1 Atik webcams with a
usb2 Lumenera Skynyx camera and filter wheel (Astronomik type2
LRGB , NIR & Schuler UV filters), added a right angle "flip mirror"
to help with getting the planet framed on the ccd (very difficult
with nothing but the 7X50 finder on the Mewlon, and the telescope
at an effective focal length of 10000mm), a disperion corrector (for
work below 45 deg el.) or equivalent length spacer, and a X2
barlow. The extension from barlow to ccd provides a multiplication
of X3.33, giving me the eFL of 10000mm (FR of f/40).
As of Jan 2008, the 100ED is retired, the 80ED is the imager, with the
H9 looking through the filters in a FLI CFW filter wheel and a TV
flattener/reducer. I'm using my Stellarvue AT1010 (80mm) as the guide
scope with the SXV guide head. Both scopes use fixed rings mounted
on the CGE, now on a permanent steel (west) pier. The pier is much
more stable than the heavy CGE tripod (something that was a bit of a
surprise to me). This setup is used for widefields, large nebulas and
galaxy formations
H9 looking through the filters in a FLI CFW filter wheel and a TV
flattener/reducer. I'm using my Stellarvue AT1010 (80mm) as the guide
scope with the SXV guide head. Both scopes use fixed rings mounted
on the CGE, now on a permanent steel (west) pier. The pier is much
more stable than the heavy CGE tripod (something that was a bit of a
surprise to me). This setup is used for widefields, large nebulas and
galaxy formations
Here is the Mewlon 250 on the pier mounted CGE, with the planetary
imaging train recording a sequence of Jupiter shots. The wooden
deck (floor for the future obs. building) will be the next project.
imaging train recording a sequence of Jupiter shots. The wooden
deck (floor for the future obs. building) will be the next project.
The photo to the right, shows the lightbox that I use on the 10"
newt and cassegrain to light the aperture for flats. It contains four
12" lighttubes (powered from a 12Vdc source) at the back end,
four layers of 1/8" thick light diffusers, each separated by 3/4" of
air, with a fifth "white clouded" diffuser on the outside. The box is
made of a light wooden frame with 1/2" foam core on all sides, and
a foam gasket to allow a tight fit over the scope. Certainly not a
heavy construction, and I better not drop it, or else, but it works
well.
I use a small (5"X 7") slide viewing light tray as a source for flats
on the 80mm scope. It would also work well on most 100mm
scopes. It provides a precision 5000 deg K flat source across the
5X7 area. I also use a smaller (4"X 5") version to view 35mm slides
(it would work well on a typical 60-70mm scope). A much larger
version is also available, but is rather expensive (that's why I built
the lightbox).
newt and cassegrain to light the aperture for flats. It contains four
12" lighttubes (powered from a 12Vdc source) at the back end,
four layers of 1/8" thick light diffusers, each separated by 3/4" of
air, with a fifth "white clouded" diffuser on the outside. The box is
made of a light wooden frame with 1/2" foam core on all sides, and
a foam gasket to allow a tight fit over the scope. Certainly not a
heavy construction, and I better not drop it, or else, but it works
well.
I use a small (5"X 7") slide viewing light tray as a source for flats
on the 80mm scope. It would also work well on most 100mm
scopes. It provides a precision 5000 deg K flat source across the
5X7 area. I also use a smaller (4"X 5") version to view 35mm slides
(it would work well on a typical 60-70mm scope). A much larger
version is also available, but is rather expensive (that's why I built
the lightbox).
I recently started the steps to build a more formal observatory
structure. ...First a deck, then add some walls and a (roll-off) roof.
structure. ...First a deck, then add some walls and a (roll-off) roof.