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Old 10-08-2013, 12:25 AM
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g__day (Matthew)
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sydney
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I would highly recommend Lumicon for OAG - http://www.telescope-service.com/Lum...t/Lumicon.html

Not only consider a motorised focuser, consider a motorised, PC controllable one with a temperature sensor. My logic here is:

1. A steel tube will shrink as the temperature falls, so you will need to compensate to maintain focus as temperature varies (which is why I love Carbon Fibre tubes - almost no thermal expansion / contraction)

2. Focusing with say a Bathinov mask - or any focusing - I don't like to touch the tube at all - I want it rock steady and for folk to not even walk by it when I am focusing or imaging! So PC controlled is great!

3. If the tube has a read out of both its position and temperature then you should be able to chart and match temperatures to position.

4. If you use eventually use a mono camera and filters - then (not sure is this was refractors only or SCTs too) each filter will focus to a different position - so its handy tracking where each colour focuses at any given temperature.

Quite a few folk here use Moonlite focusers - they are exceptional quality and look great too! http://www.focuser.com/storefront.shtml

The Moonlite focusers with High resolution Stepper motors, temperature sensing and Variable speed mini controllers (hand operated or USB controller v2) work very well!http://www.focuser.com/cgi-bin/dman....cgi&category=5

PS

The Astrodon MMOAG plus fittings is around the same price as the ONAG http://www.innovationsforesight.com/...On_axis_guider review here http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2706
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