Guide Scope

[ballaratdragons]

I think it is called a Guide Scope :shrug:

Now that I will be going into ToUcamming will I need one?

If so, will one of those cheapie Duck Smith refractors do the job??
They are for visual observing whilst photographing aren't they????

[mick pinner]

if you are going to guide visually through a seperate scope you will need an illuminated reticle ep to keep the image centered and l think some of those cheap refractors only take the .96 ep's and not 1.25".
check what set up Ice uses, on brighter objects you could always guide through your finderscope.

[ballaratdragons]

Why would I need an illuminated reticle Mick? I don't use one for visually observing now.

[mick pinner]

to make sure that the object is kept as close as possible to the centre of the field of vision, this is important when downloading multiple images.

[cometcatcher]

The focusser on the DSE refractor is too wobbly IMO, unless you can tighten it with a screw or something.

[Striker]

Yes ken you will soon see how quick you will get star trails if you dont keep the target completely centered.

Like Mick said a illuminated eyepiece is probably the best way to go...or try it without and guess center....good luck...lol

[ballaratdragons]

What about if I made illuminated cross-hairs for the front of a cheapie? Would that work the same way? (I'm just trying to keep the dollars down)

[davidpretorius]

no, not yet,

you plug the toucam into a smaller scope and it then guides the big scope for imaging. You would need two toucams or a toucam and another camera.

using a software progam called guidedog, the toucam picks up that a star has moved and the motorized system compensates.

bert has a neat setup

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4664&stc=1&thumb=1 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4664)

[mick pinner]

should work fine Ken, let me know what type of scope your looking at as l have a couple of 60 x 900 mm refractors brand new.

[ballaratdragons]

Well, that's got me even more confused. I just wanna see optically what the Toucam is looking at.

[atalas]

Ken is the web cam you are getting modified to do long exposure ?

Louie

[ballaratdragons]

I was thinking of those Duck Smith ones. I think they are about $49. I know they are garbage.

[mick pinner]

l would suggest just a simple guidescope with illuminated cross hairs till you get the hang of things.

[ballaratdragons]

Yes Louie, long exposure modified. I already have it, Avandonk gave it to me brand new!

[davidpretorius]

ken, i have thought the same thing, i want to look and image at the same time. I have seen some attachments that allow you to image and view, but i don't think they are cheap!

[mick pinner]

you could use an off axis guider but they are not cheap and then you would still have to buy an illuminated ep.

[ballaratdragons]

I was thinking of just chucking a cheap refractor piggy-backed on the 12" so I can see what the TouCam sees. And my boys will want to see visually while I have the TouCam in the focuser.

[mick pinner]

that is the easiest way Ken but remember that the view through the refractor will be pretty poor compared to the dobby.

[ballaratdragons]

Yeah, I know Mick :scared2: But if I can only spend peanuts I expect to get peanuts. Gee I'll be glad when I get this job (now that's positive thinking) so I can set up a bit better!

I will do some googling and see if I can find a cheapie apart from Duck Smith. Hopefully with a 1 1/4" focuser so I can use my EP's in it.

[[1ponders]]

Ken I'm having a bit of difficulty understanding why you want a guidescope if you don't have any sort of fine control over your alt and az movement. Are you going to try to move your scope by hand while viewing through the guidescope while recording through your dob? If that's the case you're going to find it extremely difficult to keep the image your recording from "shuddering" while tracking by hand. Also if that's the case then you would be able to a better job "guiding" by hand by viewing the image on the computer screen and guiding from their. For planets that is. DSOs will be a real challenge

[ballaratdragons]

Oh, OK Paul. If it is easier to keep the image centred on the computer screen I can try that. I was mainly worried about visually seeing while the ToUcam was in the dob. Even though I want to take pics I love to see them with my eye too. Also is it better to put the TouCam in a second scope and visually view through the Dob?

So much to learn :doh:

[[1ponders]]

The problem will be Ken if your trying to view through a scope mounted on your dob (image with the dob) then you will probably end up touching the mounted scope which will cause your image to move while your recording through the dob. If I'm imaging planets (been a bit slack on that front lately :P ) I will often spend some time observing visually, keeping a close eye on the seeing. If it looks like the seeing is improving I'll pop in the ToUcam and whip off a few avies, then go back to visual. If I notice improving even more I'll whip off a few more. This is with tracking though so I imagine you're going to have some fun for a while. I think you need to have a bit of a chat with the Dob Imaging King, His Royal Iceman.

[ballaratdragons]

LOL! Thanks Paul. Without tracking I am certainly going to have a hard time but I won't be the first. I have seen good non-tracked pics and I am prepared to put in the time and patience to give it a go.

One day down the track I can see I will need tracking.

[[1ponders]]

Depends on how much of a masochist you intend to be Ken. :lol:

[asimov]

What about doing the finder mod in the projects & DIY section Ken. I did something similar, but using my polar scope illuminator off the EQ5 mount, fitted to a dew shield for my finder..It doesn't illuminate the cross-hairs, it illuminates the FOV slightly with a red glow that make the cross-hairs stand out.

[ving]

surely you dont have to go overseas to get one ken :rolleyes:

[elusiver]

can't u just use u'r standard GSO finder? That's what I use at the moment.. but of course i'm only trying to image plants and stuff. I don't think I got room on the 8" anyway now.. witht he telrad and the 9x50..

el :)

[elusiver]

a thought just occured to me.. if you're gonna be imaging ken.. will that mean we will no longer get your awesome sketches???

el :)

[ballaratdragons]

El,

I will probably do both imaging and sketching.
Photograph what I can and draw what I can't. :thumbsup:

I will probably start out doing what Paul the Ponderman said: View then pic, view then pic! Just pop the TouCam in when the seeing is at it's best.