My new imaging rig

[iceman]

Someone (BD?) asked for photos of the scope on my new EQ platform, so here it is..

Tried for my first imaging session on the platform tonight.. A couple of things noticed, while a rough "point south" and rough "that looks level" works ok for visual use to keep the planet in the same spot in the field-of-view (9mm eyepiece), using a ToUcam and 2.4x barlow requires much greater accuracy.

I still found the object drifted through the field-of-view, of course much much slower than without the tracking, but it still didn't stay put for as long as I wished it to.

So next time i'll need to be more accurate when aligning it with south and getting it level.

Unfortunately the seeing was well below average (shocking, in fact) so it's unlikely i'll be posting any of the avi's I took, but it was a learning experience nonetheless.. it's like starting new again!

Anyway, here's my a pic of my new imaging rig :)

[Orion]

Starting to look very professional Mike. You will get proper tracking when the alignment is spot on.
Oh by the way you will have to add your platform to you signature.

[Starkler]

Theres also the speed control to fine adjust . I saw a write up once on drift aligning suggesting using a star near the celestial equator. Im sure others here can help with that.

Hows the stability of the set up Mike? Does it get wobbly when the scope is leaning ?

[iceman]

There's no doubt it adds to the wobble of the scope, whether it's leaning or flat.. bumping the scope takes extra time to dampen than when i'm not using the platform.

That's sort of expected though, you're adding 6" of height on a bit of wood rolling across some rollers, it's bound to wobble a bit more. It's not enough to annoy me though, and with the motorised focuser I can avoid touching the scope altogether.

Brian suggests that to aid in stability you can eliminate the ground board of the dob base, and use the top board of the platform as your new dob base - i've contemplated it, but would find it more annoying to transport (for me, at least).

So i'll live with it and see what adjustments I can make over time.

[Thiink]

Good too see your new tracking platform arrived Mike! I am waiting with anticipation for your first tracked image!

I noticed on the Andrews site that they have a spare 10" dob base for $49 without OTA. Maybe you could grab it, throw the bottom base away and permanently clip/attach the spare dob base onto the tracking platform and leave your other base as is for travel/storage? Just a thought.

[ving]

grab it now mike! its the anwer to your dreams!!! :)

looks really good :)

[iceman]

Did some more imaging last night, the seeing conditions were a little better but still not what I'd call "great", like they were when i captured my best non-driven images.

I am getting better at aligning too, the object only drifted slightly upwards in the ToUcam FOV over a long period, and I was able to adjust the sideways movement with the fine speed control knob.

Will post images a bit later.

[ausastronomer]

Nice find Simon,

I phoned Lee Andrews about 2 mths ago trying to buy a new base for my 10" GS dob and he said he thought he had one and then subsequently phoned back and said he didn't, so maybe its resurfaced. After 3 or 4 years heavy use in dewwy conditions the moisture has got to my base and its starting to "open up". I ended up buying 1 from BINTEL for $150 FI.

1 word of warning !!! The early 10" GS dobs when they made the scopes for Orion in the US only have 4" altitude beariings not the larger 5" bearings, which are used on the more recent manufacture scopes. If you buy this base make sure the altitude bearings are compatable with your scope.

CS-John B

[RAJAH235]

Mike, your new tracking platform looks good. You mention that it has a small stability prob. Pity it wasn't a bit larger diam.
Surely it would be an easy job to enlarge the bearing cutout in the Dob base? Make it a 'V' if nec! Only there to hold 2 pieces of Teflon. :P L.

[elusiver]

mike,

whats that thing on the bottom end of the scope?? looks kinda like a bubble level..

el :)