Another AP beginner gear advice thread

[Tarn_M]

Hey guys,

I'm another rookie looking for a bit of starting up equipment advice.

Have been interested in space and astronomy since I was a kid but up until recently I haven't had the time (or money) to get involved.
Really keen on astrophotography and whilst I find the photos of the moon/planets fascinating and would like to do some imaging of them, I think my real interest would be DSOs.

Currently have no equipment other than a Nikon D3400 with pretty standard beginner lenses (18-55mm, 55-200mm). The last few weeks I've had a play around with just my camera/tripod, taking some milky way shots and ended up more fixated on the orion nebula (only got a small blurry outline but was enough to get me hooked).

Starting budget is about $2k for now, and while I toyed around with idea of getting an 8 or 10" dob (for more bang for my buck) I think I'd end up just trying to take photos of DSOs and becoming frustrated.

After reading around online, it seems to be general consensus is to get a decent mount first and upgrade scope later. Inspired by Martin (startreks) post on Crater101s thread I've been looking at a getting a HEQ5 Pro and a cheap 6 or 8" newt.

Something like http://www.astroanarchy.com.au/telescopes/AstroPhoto_HEQ5_8.html (seems a good price and I'm based in Brisbane) or the Bintel version.

Does this seem like a reasonable start? Probably with a plan to upgrade scope in the next 6-12 months. Am I going to regret not waiting 6 months and getting a eq 6 off the bat (and getting a cheap 8" dob to scratch the itch in the meantime)?

Thanks for your input!

[jahnpahwa]

I reckon current plan of heq5pro with 6" or 8" newt on top is a great one :) And I don't think the 6" is a lesser option at all. Lots of DSOs will benefit from the slightly wider FOV and will be a slightly easier job for the mount.



For what its worth, I'm 4months in and started with the above with 8" option. I'm happy with that choice and I don't think I'll be getting rid of either the mount or scope anytime soon.



Perhaps factor in a coma corrector off the bat as well? It didn't take me long to notice and be bothered by the coma in my images. Baader mpcc seems a popular choice and gets the job done.

[Startrek]

Some good advice
General rule of thumb for Long Exposure Astrophotography Payload is 60% of the maximum payload of the mount
A HEQ5 mount has a maximum payload capacity of 13kg so when used for long exposure Astrophotography the recommended payload would be 8 to 9kg
A 6” f5 newt alone weighs around 6kg
A 6” f6 newt alone weighs around 6.5kg
A 8” f5 newt alone weighs around 8.5kg
Remember you have to add your Astrophotography imaging equipment , guiding equipment , dew control and other misc items ( can add up to 3kg to 4 kg)
So based on my experience with all the above newts your safest bet with the least amount of trouble would be to use the HEQ5 mount with either a 6” f5 newt or 6” f6 newt.
My 8” f5 newt sits on a larger capacity EQ6-R mount at a AP payload of 15kg , way to much for the smaller HEQ5 mount
Yes you can put an 8” f5 newt on a HEQ5 mount ( a lot of folk do ) but you need to ensure balance is perfect , conditions are good and no wind around , in other words there’s no margin for error and being a rank beginner I strongly recommend either of the 6” newts
Here’s a few images I took this week with my 6” f6 newt in light polluted Sydney to show you what a 6” newt is capable of with the right imaging gear
Hope the above helps

[RyanJones]

I’ll second Martin’s advice. I am currently one of the folk he talks about that runs an 8” Newtonian on a HEQ5 pro. It is absolutely possible but it isn’t easy and it has taken a long time and some pretty serious efforts to get it to the point where I can image reliably on it. I don’t regret buying the 8” but I’d heavily sway you towards the 6” given you are new to the game. It will save you a lot of headaches.

[sunslayr]

Sirius (http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/telescopes/reflector/saxon-6in-heq5-astrophotography-newtonian-bundle.html) will get you there just under 2k

[Tarn_M]

Thanks guys! Some super helpful advice. Will definitely steer clear of 8" on that mount! Those photos look amazing!

Is this the coma corrector you were referring to JP? https://www.bintel.com.au/product/baader-mpcc-mkiii-2-inch/?v=322b26af01d5

Looks like good option from sirius!

I guess the question is do I want to wait a bit and spend another 1k to get a mount that can handle something a bit bigger... :lol:

[RyanJones]

If you’re anything like the rest of us, what you have will never be enough. That can be a bigger scope, a better mount, a dedicated cooled camera ..... the lost goes on. Yes you could wait to get a 6 but you’ve got to start somewhere and the HEQ5 is no slouch of a mount to cut your teeth on.

[jahnpahwa]

Yep, thats the one :thumbsup:

If there is the possibility of another grand floating around I'd be thinking about a guiding set up, or even a cooled OSC camera... second hand 183mc pros are around, people seem to be upgrading to the 2600 and offloading them second hand. They're small enough to be postable ;)

[Tarn_M]

Thanks JP! I guess that’s true, there’s always a bigger and better looking mode. I better go with the HEQ5 and 6”, so there’s some money left over to buy all these extras I’m going to want (need :lol:)

[mynameiscd]

Hi Tarn,
Id agree everyone here with the 6" and the HEQ5. Its exactly what I use and it has served me well with my trusty Canon 450D.
A coma corrector is a must unless you like cropping all the edges off your images.
I use a guider now but with good polar alignment you can take 90 second to two minute subs and then stack.
Here's a few unguided images I took a while ago.

Cheers
Andy

[jahnpahwa]

I dont want to derail this thread, but that is a very classy bunch of pics! Unguided!? Very, very awesome, Andy!

[mynameiscd]

Well thank you!!
Just showing what can be done with simple gear and a whole lot of advice from these very forums!!
Ive only been guiding and been connected to a PC for about 10 months now.
Before that it was straight to a SD card and using an intervalometer to take subs.

Cheers
Andy

[Tarn_M]

Amazing photos Andy! Hopefully I can get there eventually.. Coma corrector definitely on the list too.
Is the Orion mini auto guider package a reasonable beginners guide setup?

[neurosis3000]

Those are amazing pics! Especially unguided! :eyepop: