New Equipment and New Technology

[Astrobserver99]

A quick look around the web shows an unbelievable amount of high tech astronomy equipment that was not available 10 years ago. I am talking about the astrographs, ccd cameras, filters and software. Some of the equipment that comes to mind are QHY cameras, RCOS and Starizona Astrographs and Astronomiks Filters. :thumbsup:

Oh well - I can keep wishing for a lucky star!!:lol:

[Hans Tucker]

Kinda sad and exciting at the same time. With all this new technology now available to the every day amature do we really sit back to admire the beauty of what we see or image...yuk I am getting all Philosophical.

Getting back to my materialistic manner I spied a Takahashi FRC-300 for sale...one of these rare for sale babies at a killer price :P It doesn't hurt to dream.

[gregbradley]

I saw that Tak FRC300 too. But at US$14,000 its simply not competitive any more. Planewave CDK 12.5 $9995 and better configuration, Starizona 12.5 inch Hyperion complete with autofocuser and rotation and temperature control for US$10,000, Deep Sky Instruments 10 and 14 inch RCs with Star optics for US$6000 or so and $14000 or so.

The FRC300 was a leader in earlier times.

Greg.

[Zaps]

Yeah guys, there are some fantastic astrographs available nowadays, and some incredible new mounts coming along too.

This is a great time to be an amateur astronomer, that's for real.

[Hans Tucker]

Yes..new exciting mounts...I heard a rumour that Software Bisque is releasing a smaller more portable version of their popular Paramount ME..a rumour that I hope may be true. I wish Takahashi would re-release their Espsilon Astrograph range...now that would be cool.

[Zaps]

Hans, about the new SB mount: that's not a rumor! :)

Also, I've seen a new, much larger Epsilon 350 listed on a website, but have heard nothing more about it. Wow. Can you imagine that beast?