Auto guiding and focal lengths LX90

[Moonman (Michael)]

I have a 420mm refractor that is most likely physically able to be mounted on my LX90. If I plug in a 6.3 focal reducer into the lx90 (2000mm fl) and effectively bring it back to about 1300mm should this make autoguiding with the refractor a proposition or do I still need a longer focal length in the guidescope?

If anyone has tred this path before me I'd appreciate the advice.

Cheers

Michael

[Poita (Peter)]

I've guided with an ED80 as the guidescope and a C8 with 6.3 reducer for imaging and it went okay.
I've since moved up to Off Axis Guiding to reduce the weight on the mount, but the ED80 as guider worked fine.

[Moonman (Michael)]

Thanks Peter,
How easy do you think is it with the oag to find a guidestar compared to a guidescope? I have toyed with the idea of an oag but generally shied away.

Cheers

Michael

[Poita (Peter)]

I haven't had a problem, I can loan you a meade OAG if you want to give it a go.
It isn't best of breed, but at least you can have a play, I'm not using the SCT at the moment, so can spare the guider.
I am using a Lodestar though, which is very sensitive, your results may vary with your guide cam.

-P

[Moonman (Michael)]

Yes thanks I'd be happy to experiment with your oag. I have some annual leave for a month and now have a bit of time to play.

The Lodestar looks like a fine instrument. I'm intending on running my LVI2smart guider with the lx90. It directly plugs in via a 505 cable.

Cheers

Michael

[Poita (Peter)]

I popped it in the post today for you along with a 6.3 reducer, hopefully you will receive it in time for the weekend. I figure the only way to know is to try it, I tend to use my gear like a library, money is tight and I hate to think of people buying something they don't end up using.

[Poita (Peter)]

Once your reducer arrives, could you post mine on, I have another bloke who wants to try one out.

Thanks

-Peter