Just don't forget you need to guide your images other wise you wont be able to track precisely
... Off Axis Guider and a minimum of QHY5 or Orion Star shoot auto guider
... small guide scope QHY5 of Orion Star shoot autoguider
the off axis guider is the best out of both if the star moves on the focus point, it is realitive to the imaging camera. Cons can be slightly challanging to get the right connections and focus points but once you have figured it nothing more needs to be done!
small guide scope is easy to get opperational, but the con is differential flexure. aka, the star moves in the guide scope the guider corrects the mount. but it may not be representitive of the main imaging scope hence you get star trails and loose details.
AP requirements to take more than happy snaps
if going a newtonian, you need to generally
-upgrade the focuser
-Modify the OTA (generally they just don't have the back focus)
-MPCC to make the field flat
-Camera DSLR or CCD
-Mount HEQ5 or NEQ6
-Guiding solution as mentioned above
-Small laptop to control the whole shebam
if your going a refractor, you need to generally
-possibly upgrade the focuser
-field flattener
-Camera DSLR or CCD
-EQ5 or better
-Guiding solution as mentioned above
-Small laptop to control the whole shebam
I use a eeepc 1000HD which is a 900MHz celron with 1gig of ram it does splendidly!
But to be honest to get a good kit that is capable of decent photos budget 4-6k. It sounds alot but if your a bit of a loon like myself and you know you will be using it then it doesn't really matter does it!
Cheaper than cars and other hobbies!
Brendan
