SBIG Adaptive Optics

[Hans Tucker]

SBIG A07 or A08 Adaptive Optics. Adapters to fit to a ST-2000XM & CFW-8A combo would be a bonus.

[tempestwizz]

I have an A07 that came with my ST2000 and CFw8 that I don't use, and could be interested in parting with, but I would offer words of caution regarding its effectiveness before you choose to proceed.
While the AO7 can quickly react to and follow star movements, it needs a whole lot of brightness for it to do so. I have found that my typical exposures for the AO7 and the internal guider were down to something between 2 and 5 seconds. This is hardly better than the mount guiding. The affect is exacerbated by the fact that guide stars are filtered through the filterset prior to getting to the guiding chip. If trying Ha, there is little throughput for the guider to work on. Hence if you try to take a set of Ha, R,G,B you need to set up for the worst case of Ha when setting up the guiding process. I gave up.

Another problem I noted with the AO7 is that it seems to be designed for F10 systems. (SCT styles) I tried using it through my Genesis F5 refractor, and instead of getting pinpricks, I got diagonal lines. It is as though the mirror is too far up the converging light cone, and the convergence is spoilt by the tilting of the mirror.

An AO8 sounds as though it would solve the latter issue I have, but still not the limited light.

Let me know if you wish to proceed, but I can't say I'd recommend it.

Cheers,

Brian C