Badass dual imaging setup operational

[gregbradley]

I got my FLI filter wheel back last week. Its now fully updated to the latest CFW 4/5 filter wheel.

I just loaded everything up so now the CDK17 is back in business again.

So the 2 systems are:

CDK 17, Planewave electronic focuser (Hedricks) with .66X reducer on a Paramount ME and Proline 16803 FLI Filter wheel, Ha (5nm) LRGB (Astrodon), SBIG STi autoguider on a Vixen VMC110, Sirius Optics Pier.

AstroPhysics Riccardi Honders 305mm Astrograph F3.8 on an AP1600GTO with MMOAG, FLI Atlas focuser, Starlight Express Trius 694 and FLI CFW 5/7 with Astrodon Ha O111 S11 (5nm) LRGB 50mm square filters, on a Mountain Instruments Portable pier.

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/161870280

Greg.

[Slawomir]

That is truly a deadly combo Greg, and a wonderful testimony to your passion to astrophotography :thumbsup:

P.S. Your Trius 694 is very uniquely "dressed up" with such large filters - no vignetting happening over there! :lol:

[Paul Haese]

With any luck things will be working well from here on in Greg. Well done.

[Atmos]

That is some mighty good looking equipment there Greg. Kudos to you :D

[Bassnut]

Well done , badass indeed, you could do stereo with that lot 😀

[Somnium]

That is about as good as it gets ! Great stuff Greg . If you had your time over again would you get the sbig stx 16803 over the proline to give you the option of AO ?

[gregbradley]

Yes the filters are overkill but means I can plug in the Proline at any time and its ready to go.



Thanks Paul. I hope so too.



Thanks. Yes it is some nice looking gear.



Yes I could!



Don't know. I do like the Proline. Proline versus STX - cooling is similar perhaps a bit more with the Proline. Electronics. This is where I think the Proline is most likely better but not 100% sure. What I am sure of is FLI's electronics are top notch.
Fully hermetically sealed CCD chamber with argon so no desiccant. I think its a sapphire window for the CCD with anti reflection coatings. My Proline also has dew heaters in the ccd chamber although I don't use them. Hub and extra power outlets - I do use those and they are very convenient.

Self guide through filters - it would be handy at times but guiding through filters is old hat and the blue filter takes extra usually and Ha well that needs about 30 second exposure sometimes so both need a MMOAG so even there. Self guide does have the advantage of no flex. Pricewise they are similar, weight they are similar, cost of filter wheels etc are similar.
So its close.

I can add an SX Large format AO unit still so not only SBIG for AOs. But SBIG do have the experience with AO units.

Greg.