More 80mm x 400mm with 300d

[xelasnave]

It is fantastic what you can do with a $200 telescope when you use a $2000 camera. Here is my latest stuff. Taken on a very very clear and dark night even for my place.
alex

[xelasnave]

here is another taken that night

[atalas]

Wow good stuff Alex!

Louie :thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

hi Atlas thanks, I,m having trouble uploading but seems something has come thru.. here is an unidentified object..was trying out stuff and this came out ok ..shame I cant name it yet.

[atalas]

Was that in sagittarius Alex?could be M22 ,can you tell me what the constellation was?

Louie :thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

I am sure we are close. I really need some sort of recording system but pen and paper aint that useful in the dark..mmm a tape recorder yes that should do it. I cant win when I set up after a specific object the gear plays up on a night such as taht passed I try stuff focusing etc and thats when I get a sharp shot and it is a paint cause they dont look the same in a phot as I am used to via visual observing... anyhows its great to be out there..

[xelasnave]

anyways I am leaving Tabulam now.. hopefully for a clear dark sky on my mountain. Should have a lap top tomorrow to do some lpi guided stuff.
I gotta tell you after my wide field shots I go out now and mate its like I live on the space station. The fotos wide field has caused my mind to register what is really there.. I can see those cloud pillars its is mad such a change in perception.
Be back in a couple of days.

[atalas]

Yep It sure is mate,I haven't cought anything worth posting since my last post ,so it's good to see people keeping up the good work . Enjoy you trip mate!


Louie :2thumbs:

[mch62]

Not knocking your great shots there , but you can see the acromatic blue purple in the pics.
great pictures as you say for a $200 jobby
Now just imaging a nice $600 80mm Ed .
Keep em coming.

Mark

[xelasnave]

Thanks Mark, yes I know about the colour problem, however I,m colour blind so I dont let it annoy me.. however why stop at the 80 ed I am starting to like the idea of one of those 100mm Jap units that cost the price of a small sedan.. ( I suspect that Seeker is wondering how he can come home with one and still be allowed to live there)
I took some shots last night with the 150sn (meade) and they were very encouraging however I cant post them yet.
alex

[mch62]

I'll bet that I'd like a nice 12-14"TMB triplet APO , the ones that cost the price of a large home :rofl:

Mark

[xelasnave]

Hey Mark I have put the house on the market where should I order the big scope???
I noticed the details of your gear. Is there a photo of your fork mount? I am building one for the 12inch so I would be interested to look at your set up.. if possible.
alex

[mch62]

Still uncompleted as of yet , but it's a friction drive and the fork will take up to a 20" Newt although i intend to only put a 16" on it eventually.

That's the big problem when you start talking about larger Newtonians if you want to EQ mount them.
Things get real expensive in the commercial mount department for any thing capabile of decently handling a 12" or larger scope.

The only real choices start at $8000+ Aus.
So big big savings can be had if your prepared to DIY.

If you want more details on the mount and drives PM me .

Mark

[xelasnave]

Mark thank you so much for sharing your equipment details.
I built a fork mount to do almost the same, it carried the 235 mm reflector (1800 fl) and had a 6 foot diameter polar disk.. it was made of junk and served as a prototype. The new one (started 3 weeks ago) will not have a polar disk but I am hoping to add gyroscopes to assist stability and tracking.. there are digital "gyros" available which I am only now looking into.. But I do appreciate the problem re cost of a decent mount and as presumptious as it may seem I think I can build a very good unit.. maybe it will take me a few more proto types but the entry price in this area says its worth following up.
Thanks again
alex

[mch62]

A 6 foot polar disc now that BBBIIIGGG.
Mine is 700mm solid steed with SS rim .
The polar shaft is 90mm solid steel.
The DEC shafts are 11/2"solid steel and the 700mm DEC drive disc is made from a laminate of ply and fiberglass with a SS rim epoxied to the outside.
My servo controller is a Mel Bartel unit and is usable in alt az or eq mode and go-to capable via charting software.
The motors are pittman servo motors running at 12v.
The drive primary reduction is 15;1 with intermediate reductions as well adding up to 2200:1.
The Bartel servo drive kit is a very versatile and powerfull set up capable of all sorts of error corrections from PE to shaft orthagonal errors ect ect and able to be adapted to just about any mount.

Mark