Scope Choice for Imaging

[W1ngnut]

Hi All,

Sorry if this is supposed to be in the equipment section, but I figured it applied more directly to imaging.

I currently have a Nexstar 8SE scope on a HEQ5 Pro mount. For guiding, I am basically using the 'Awesome AutoGuider Package' from Bintel.

I am focused on imaging nebulae, clusters (open and glob) and galaxies. So basically DSO's. So far, I have not imaged any nebulae or galaxies, in fact, I haven't even been able to visual them.

What I would like to know is:
- Should I use the 8" to image all the above, or;
- Use the 8" to image galaxies and clusters and swap the guider to the 8" and camera to the ShortTube80 for nebulae, or;
- Purely guide with the 8" and image only with the ShortTube80?

Will the Orion StarShoot AutoGuider even work through the 8"?

Cheers
Sam

[W1ngnut]

After doing some more reading, I may have just answered my own question...

A 0.63 focal reducer might be the little gem that I am looking for in order to use the 8" as a nebulae/galaxy imager.

[Osirisra]

I use both depending on what I'm shooting and what I want out of the shot. In general big wide shots of nebs ect are great in the 80 and small fuzzies in the main scopoe for the 'power'

The way that stars look in reflectors and refractors is always a factor too.

The autoguider dosen't really care with what it is stuck in as long as it has a good object to track.

Play around with the different variations, it all great fun to see what you can come up with.

You should try and do a bit of visual on some fuzzies so as that will help you with your imaging and once you see your first few galaxies you may get hooked :) The 8" scope willl easily pick up lots of awesome galaxies but you may need to trek out to a dark site to get a good look.

[W1ngnut]

Thanks for the reply Osirisra.

I cannot get over how much light pollution we actually have where I am. I didn't think Canberra was exactly classed as a large city compared to Sydney/Melbourne, but the sky is terrible.

I can't even spot the LMC with my naked eye!

[Osirisra]

It dosen't take a very big towm/city to ruin the sky, just a couple houses and a street light or two is all that is needed to drop a few mags in viewing.

I live in small city with only around 30,000 in the center and it has to be a good night for me to be able to see the LMC as well.

Getting away from the light makes all the difference, even just 30min out of the center will make the all the goodies just 'pop out'!

Whenever the I drive back to my home and I see the horrid light pollution again after a nice dark spot I always feel like I'm sticking by head in a bag.

Imagine what it would be like with the scopes we have now back in the days before light pollution?

[W1ngnut]

I'm looking forward to my next visit to Orbost, VIC to hopefully get some much better night sky!

Locally, I might drive out to Tidbinbilla somewhere, but there are a lot of hills and trees there..

[Logieberra]

Sam, sounds like you're pretty new to the astro game.

There are a few of us entry level imagers out there in the Canberra suburbs. Send me a PM if you need help with your setup, or if you've keen to head out with us to a dark site. One mate has a NEQ6 Pro and FLT110 triplet, another has a 10" dob, I have a G11 - newt and refractors, and another just grabbed a CGEM / 9.25 setup.

Welcome to IIS~!

[W1ngnut]

Thanks for the invite Logan,

Am very knew to the Astro game and loving every second of it. Whether it was successful nights or not, it all came down to very good learning.

[Gem]

Ditto to Logan's comments! If you want a chat, send me a PM. I don't image yet, but I bought my scope with the view to imaging in the future. I have done a fair amount of visual astronomy in the past. :)

Oh, and Logan is a VERY helpful person!! :)

[Gem]

Orroral Valley tracking station site. It is only 50km drive from Woden and has lots of flat concrete slabs in a valley. That is where I am planning on going next dark site trip... Just need this "snow to 1100m" weather to go away... then the moon to go away... and to organise Logan to come too! ;)

[W1ngnut]

Hi Grant,

I have been saying to my friends that I want to head to Orroral tracking station at night. Have only been during the day on car club cruises.

[Logieberra]

Sounds good guys. Let's head out there sometime. I'll bring my little ETX90.

I'm decent with the AP / equipment side of things, but Grant has the observing game down pat. Mr Messier :)

[Logieberra]

Baz (ASIGN II) would probably head out there too. He does time-lapse stuff...

[Logieberra]

And Nick with his 10" Dob.

[Logieberra]

And Dennis the Menance with is NEQ6 Pro and FLT110.