What to put on an NEQ6?

[skogpingvin]

Hi all, I've just divested myself of a small 6" SCT that I had on an NEQ6, and want to upgrade to something for astrophotography. I've been eyeing the carbon RC8 at Bintel, so I'm looking at somewhere around a grand and a half, but I'd also like a reducer so I can get wider fields. Does anyone know if there's a dedicated reducer for the RC8, and if so, does it cause any chromatic aberration?

Any other suggestions for an astrograph in about this price range?

Another question - a really dumb one, I'm sure. I've been using an Orion 500mm mini guide scope, and I just can't figure out how it attaches to the small (Vixen) rail which is on the top of the RC8. The instructions say it just goes on - but how??!

Bill

[Atmos]

I'd personally suggest getting an 8" F/4 or F/5 and a coma corrector than dealing with the RC8 and focal reducer.
Collimating a RC8 is considerably more painful than an 8" newt.

As for connecting the guide scope, I am guessing a 2x maybe M4-6 bolts will be all thats needed. The vixen plate should have holes all over it for just such a purpose :)

[skogpingvin]

So something like this?

https://www.bintel.com.au/product/skywatcher-200mm-f4-cf-imaging-ota/

Faster f/ ratio, which is good. Anyone got any thoughts about this scope?

Why is recollimating an RC harder than a Newt?

[traveller]

Or you could go for a refractor. No need to worry about collimation. Plus you can get one of those twin vixen finder stalks for the finder and 50mm mini guider side by side set up.
Bo

[skogpingvin]

I suspect this is an age-old question, like "which is better, Sydney or Melbourne", or "is that a Brown Goshawk or a Collared Sparrowhawk" (oops, wrong forum).

[Shiraz]

With Colin on this one. That would be a good scope with a coma corrector - Skywatcher sell a CC that has good reviews and will fit (I have the 10inch version of that scope and it is really good). You will need to regularly refocus at f4, so factor in an add-on stepper motor drive and controller (should be able to find one that fits the shaft of that focuser). The Skywatcher focuser itself is OK for loads up to about 1kg, but a new focuser (eg a moonlite) would be a good idea if you are wanting to use heavy cameras.

if you do get a CF scope, be prepared for dew - I wrapped mine in Al tape to reduce the sky cooling (worked well) and you will need a fan to keep up some airflow in the OTA. Also, Skywatcher used water soluble flat black paint inside the OTA and it ran all over the place when it dewed up - recoating with blackboard paint fixed it.

[skogpingvin]

I'm really sorry, but I'm finding your post bit confusing, Shiraz.

I Googled "CF scope", but can't figure out what that is. (Edit: Ahh! Carbon Fibre!)

And "Al tape" - is that aluminium foil that is used like a space blanket?

I'm uncertain which way to jump. I'm still toying with the idea of lashing out on an Espirit 100 ED, but for that sort of money I could afford the f/4 200mm Newt, plus a coma corrector and a remote focuser and heavy-duty focus rack (yes I'll be dangling a DSLR off it).

Bill

[sil]

"african or european swallow?" Which is the best suited tool for your needs? Ignore how much gear you can get for your buck, if its the wrong choice for you its just the wrong choice. But do consider what gear you and the scope needs to do justice to the purchase and get the most use and enjoyment from it. Or aim for both, there is no "one scope to rule them all".

[skogpingvin]

I'm still thinking, although I've finally sold the Meade.

I think I'm going to go the Esprit 100 ED triplet. That'll sit nicely on my NEQ6 and has a good wide field for DSOs, which also means the Orion 50mm will do a good job with the autoguiding.

The other advantage is that it's a lot less prone to dew. I plan to use Wyperfeld as my dark sky site, and there's no power there, and the fewer electric bits and bobs that I have to run for dew zapping the better.

[Camelopardalis]

My Esprit 100 is a scope I will never sell...

Rides beautifully on the EQ6. What it will do, however, is show up any deficiencies in your camera ;)

[skogpingvin]

Oh? Do tell...? Is it a DSLR you're talking about or a CCD?

[Camelopardalis]

It's very sharp :D I went from a Canon 1100D up to the ASI1600 and it's a big upgrade. Lots of resolution from the Esprit and 1600 with its small pixels on a good night. On a bad night, it's not a fault of the scope but the atmosphere...

[skogpingvin]

Hmm, just talked with Cris at Astronomy Alive who wants to sell me a Sharpstar AL 107PH APO instead. On paper it looks like a great scope - anyone know much about it?

[The Mekon]

Yes, similar to the Astrotech 106. FPL 53 lens. I have one and it is a great scope, colour free. Mine is mounted on an EQ6 and is just so solid. The price is right at the moment.

[skogpingvin]

I got the Sharpstar. It looks great on the NEQ6, but I'm still waiting for a 3.5 inch drawtube extender for the 2" barrel, a I didn't get a prism for observation. I'm also waiting for a stepdown adapter that will allow me to put my Pentax t-ring onto the end of the reducer/flattener. So no, I can't actually see though the scope yet - how frustrating is that!?

It's wonderfully small, coming in a nice box that will easily fit in the boot of the car with the NEQ6. Now I'm just looking forward to being able to get that "first light" feeling!

Bill

[Camelopardalis]

Looks like a nice scope, but the Esprit comes with field flattener, 2" diagonal and finder scope and is faster for imaging at f/5.5...

[The Mekon]

A great choice! The lack of focuser travel I is my only complaint. Mine is an early model and has only 80mm of travel. I hope the newer models have more, or you may need more than 3.5" of extension to view straight through.

[skogpingvin]

Yes, my model has 110 mm of focus travel (it's the Spinal Tap version - it goes up to 11). I set it up to view an object on the horizon and then danled an eyepiece so I could get focus. The gap was about 3.5" when the focus rack was around half way out, so I think I got the right one!