LX90 + camera + guidescope mounting suggestions

[Octane]

Hi all,

As I've recently purchased an LX90 LNT 8" telescope, I'd like to know what kind of dovetail/mounting system would be required in order to mount my EOS-350D for wide-field astrophotography, as well as perhaps an Orion 80mm guidescope to use as a guidescope/DSI photography scope.

The reason I ask is because the LNT module takes up the space on the left-hand side of the scope and the finderscope the right-hand side.

I'm sure other people have run into this issue before and have found a way to solve it.

I'm really new to this, so if this seems like a silly question, please put up with me. :)

Regards,
Humayun

[acropolite]

Humayun, If you can keep your exposures very short, you may get away without guiding, however if you want to take exposures of any length you will need in addition to a dovetail mounting system you will need an equatorial wedge, APM, Parallel port guiding adapter (shoestring make a suitable adapter), a guide camera (Toucam or LPI) and some guiding software (Guidedog or similar) to do accurate photography. The real estate on the top of the OTA is adequate as you can guide through the OTA when the camera is piggybacked. Add to that a counterweight system to take the strain off the LX's gears (Bintel have a budget one at $129). If you check Pete's astronomy site in http://www.users.bigpond.com/lansma/ , you'll get the idea. By the time you have collected all this stuff you'll start to appreciate why people go for equatorial mounts.:face:

[Octane]

Hi acropolite,

Cheers for the link.

I would like to take long exposures, not short ones, hence the need for a guidescope and DSI or other CCD camera.

I spoke to someone at Bintel about the counterweight system already.

I guess what I'm wanting to know is if there is an all-in-one mounting system that allows you to mount a guidescope as well as a camera to the OTA.

I guess the other method would be to remove the finderscope, attach a guidescope (Orion 80mm) in its place and then attach the finderscope on top of that. That will allow me to also attach the Meade piggyback system for the camera directly onto the OTA. And then a counterweight system underneath.

Is it possible to polar align without the use of an equatorial wedge? Whilst we're at it, how does one polar align in the southern hemisphere? The LX90 manual has a section in appendix A for polar alignment, but, it is written for the northern hemisphere as it references Polaris as the alignment star. How do we find the south celestial pole?

Sorry for all the questions!

Regards,
Humayun

[Octane]

Ignore the questions regarding finding the south celestial pole; the answers are on Pete's Astronomy Page.

Regards,
Humayun

[ausastronomer]

Humayun,

Everything you need is on this page.

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_mrail.htm

Check the picture at the bottom of the page which shows a Camera sitting atop a Meade SCT using the mounting rail system. Very stable.

You can also purchase a set of rings that will fit onto the mounting rail to attach a guidescope instead of the camera. You need to order the appropriate rings to suit the guidescope you will be using.

BINTEL in Sydney may be able to provide you with a similar system although I couldn't see anything on their website.

CS-John B

[acropolite]

Humayun, the wedge is an absolute necessity, some people build their own, there is a design for a wooden wedge (plywood) in the files section of the yahoo LX90 user group; IIS member (philip) 5ash has built the wooden wedge and posted here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=5711&highlight=wedge . I'm still to fire a shot with my system, I still have a few bits to collect, but I have the Bintel weight system and IMO it is good value for the money, but I suspect that I will need to make some additional weights.

[Striker]

If your after quality plates and guide rings you cant go past the losmandy range.....but you have to pay the price...they are more expensive but will last a lifetime.


Losmandy piggyback plate DM8 (http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=256&kw=dm8&st=2)

Losmandy 125mm Guide rings (http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=2511&kw=losmandy%20&st=2)

Losmandy Camera mount adapter (http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=667&kw=losmandy&st=2)