OAG vs Guidescope for GSO 10" RC

[Manav]

Hi there,

Quite a few astronomers on IIS are using the GSO RC 10" and I was wondering what path they have taken towards guiding. I'm hoping to figure out what the best option for guiding a 2000mm scope in a suburban area (I have a QHY9).

Reading other threads in IIS on a similar topic has confused me a bit since some people mention the differential flexure is a given and guide-scope guiding will not yield the results required. On a flip side however, I'm worried about the a guide cam in OAG configuration picking up suitable stars for a narrowfield scope.

So far I've managed to narrow down the following options:

1. TSRCFlat2 (field flattener) with TSOAG27 (OAG) and correct adaptors from Teleskop and hope it works for QHY5. Click Here (http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4006_TS-2--corrector-for-GSO-Ritchey-Chr-tiens-w-o-focal-reduction.html)
2. Get a SV80ST APO with feather touch focuser and hope the whole thing balances on a G11 and has limited differential flexure.

Obviously the second option is much more expensive but atleast I get a widefield grab and go scope out of it.

Happy for you to add your comments/views. And if possible your current setup so I can copy and paste! :thumbsup:

[lazjen]

I'm still sorting things out for my kit, but I'm going the TSOAG9T2 with the ST-i for the guide camera. I just didn't want to deal with possible flexure issues.

[DavidTrap]

I had trouble with a QHY5 not be sensitive enough to find guide stars through an OAG at long focal lengths - sometimes required 5-10second exposures. Have had no issues since upgrading to a Lodestar.

DT

[Manav]

Hi Chris and David - Do you guys use a FF in conjunction with your OAG?

[DavidTrap]

Yes, sort of.

My refractor has a dedicated flattener/reducer and the reflector has a built in corrector. My camera has a built in OAG - QSI WSG. One of the main reasons I bought this camera was the inbuilt filter wheel and OAG.

DT

[lazjen]

FF - no, not yet. I'm still in the assembly stage at this time (I've got a thread going in the beginner forum), so I'm trying to sort out the guiding issues first before I tackle other problems (mostly).

[blink138]

hi yugant
I have a similar setup to you c11 / g11 and I use my old celestron c102 f/5 refractor as a guidescope without any problems
I generally do 180s exposures 5km from perth, no wuckers!
pat

[RickS]

You can mostly get away without a flattener on the RC10 with a sensor the size of the KAF-8300. I did some imaging with an RC10 and the Starlight Xpress equivalent of the QHY9. I used an OAG and also the Starlight Xpress AO-LF active optics unit. It worked out reasonably well...

Cheers,
Rick.

[E_ri_k]

I ended up buying an ONAG for my RC10 (http://innovationsforesight.com) Probably not the cheapest option, but guiding has become extremely easy with it. Had to buy a lodestar though, as the QHY5 guider wasn't sensitive enough.
Erik

[Poita]

The QHY5 isn't really sensitive enough, but the new and cheap ZWO camera is, I use the 9.25 with an OAG and it is the business.

[Manav]

Rick and Peter - Which OAG? :)

[Marke]

Yugant here is an old post of mine you my find helpful
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=77439&highlight=RC10
I have been using the hutech for a couple years now with lodestar
along with FF FR .

[Poita]

I use the SX one as it is mighty slim, TE also have a really nice slim model, I'll dig out the details.
http://starizona.com/acb/Starlight-Xpress-Super-Slim-Off-Axis-Guide-Head-wAdapters-P3483C715.aspx

[RickS]

The Starlight Xpress OAG in my case.

[Poita]

Awwww twins!

[RickS]

Excellent choice, Poita ;)

[Manav]

starlight xpress sounds like the way to go. Anyone got a FF recommendation?

[Manav]

Just wanted to let anyone who is still following this that I ended up getting the SX Lodestar from optcorp and the TSOAG9M48 for my QHY filter Wheel + QHY9 setup. I was told my Teleskop Express to get the following adaptors:

1. Filter Wheel to OAG (http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4041_TS-Adapter-von-M54-Gewinde-auf-M48x0-75-Filtergewinde---Baulaenge-2mm.html)
2. For Lodestar to Connect to OAG (https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p1751_Baader--08A-1-25--to-T2-eyepiece-clamb-with-micro-focuser.html)
3. Nosepiece for telescope side (http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p368_Verlaengerungshuelse---2--Filtergewinde---30mm-Laenge.html)

Let me know if I'm missing something.

EDIT - Everything arrived minus the german lollies! :D

Regards