Which Setup? :O

[vignesh1230]

Okay, so ive been doing visual observing for a while now, and planning to get into astrophotography.

Now i dont know which mount to get and which setup.

I had the HEQ5 in mind before, with a GSO RC8 and the Orion SSAG Kit. But now i wonder if i should go for a NEQ6, GSO RC8 and mount my 5" F/5 Newt side by side and use that as a guide scope. Or would i be okay with HEQ5.

I will be imaging with my Nikon D5100 unmodified.

This whole setup is going in an observatory by the end of this year/start of next year. So its not going to be moved, unless i go to a Star party or something. I also plan to have it computer controlled.

I have a budget of $3000 but can go over by $300.

So
Q1: Would i be better off with a HEQ5 or NEQ6
Q2: Any problem with using my Newtonian as a guidescope with the orion autoguider
And
Q3: Is my setup worth it, or should i go with a completely different setup

Edit: I think i posted in the wrong section... Could someone move it to the appropriate section?

[RickS]

I think you'd be asking for trouble with a Newt in a side-by-side set up for guiding. Two reasons: the mirror on the Newt is going to move around and SBS set ups often have problems with flexure. You'd be better off using a small refractor (even a decent finder scope) with a solid connection to the RC8.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Octane]

Go the NEQ6.

The mount is the most important part of any astrophotographic setup.

Skimp on the mount, and you can expect sub-par images.

H

[vignesh1230]

I thought the HEQ5 was sufficient to take on the max i would put on it, 8kg.

This has to be a setup that i wont change for Many Many years, so i want to make sure.

[Saturn%5]

Im not an expert on this stuff but listen to the wise.

Go the NEQ6.

cheers

Graeme.

[vignesh1230]

Alright then. NEQ6 it is. XD

What about the RC8? Good choice for general astrophotography?

[DavidTrap]

Agree you should go for the best mount you can afford.

RC8 is a longer focal length instrument - so harder to guide and focus.

Many of the big bright objects are much larger than the field of view that an RC8. An ED80 refractor would be a very good starting point.

As for guiding - the SSAG connected to the Orion guide scope, or even the finder guider would be suitable. The software provides sub-pixel guiding accuracy, so a long focal length guide scope isn't required.

DT

[naskies]

I have an EQ6 and GSO RC8 that I use with an Orion mini guide scope, QHY5 guide camera, and unmodded Canon full-frame DSLR that can produce some nice results:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=98070
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=91764

I agree with what the previous posters have written.

The RC8 might be a bit too much to start with - I find that it can be quite tricky to balance perfectly, plus it has other complications (narrow field of view, needs very good polar alignment at that focal length and f-ratio, dew control is a problem, requires collimation, etc).

A wide field scope - such as an ED80 - would be perfect to start with. In fact, I recently found a second hand AstroTech AT65EDQ to complement my RC8 so that I can fit entire nebulae into frame.

As for guiding, I've successfully used an Orion Mini guide scope (162 mm focal length) to guide my RC8. It mounts into the finder scope bracket and because it's so light (especially compared to the Orion SSAG kit) it makes balancing/guiding much easier.

You'd definitely want the EQ6... the EQ5 + RC8 combination would just cause a lot of frustration with eggy stars. (Ignore the weight ratings, they're not helpful on economical mounts!)

Good luck!

[vignesh1230]

Ahh right. Thats exactly the setup i wanted to run in the obs.

I was thinking about using my 5" F/5 newt for some casual astrophotography, till i get the GSO. I have to buy these items separately, mount first.

What are the pros and cons of having a short focal length vs a long focal length in an observatory?

[naskies]

I highly recommend picking up a good book on the basics of astrophotography to get yourself started:

http://shop.iceinspace.com.au/shop/shooting-stars-ebook/
http://www.astropix.com/GADC/TOC.HTM

(I receive no benefit from spruiking either - but I'm a happy customer of the first one.)

Here's some free but good material to get started too:

http://starizona.com/acb/ccd/ccd.aspx