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Old 27-03-2014, 10:01 AM
astro744
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astro744 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,244
This is a great package for a beginner for visual and astrophotography and do not be deterred by the EQ mount. One learns how to use it and it is needed for tracking. I would be very happy with this as my first telescope.

My first telescope was a 6" Newt. on an EQ mount many years ago and at the time I had to wait a while before I could afford the RA motor and then I got the astrophotography bug and needed a DEC motor.

Your mount has all of this but you still need one more thing and that is something to guide the telescope whilst taking the image. On my setup I invested in a separate guidescope and rings mounted to my telescope and a Barlow and illuminated crosshair eyepiece to guide with. My guidescope was a 60mm x 700mm refractor.

Nowadays you can get CCD autoguiders mounted on small refractors that ride with the telescope or you can still do it visually. Off axis guiders are common for SCT's and they are still available for Newtonians and refractors from Lumicon (Easy Guider Systems). These mount between the camera and focuser and have a small prism that is used to find and guide on a small field star. You would have to insure you have enough travel in your focuser to accommodate an Easy Guider otherwise you may not reach focus. I personally think the auto-guide CCD and small refractor is the go now.

Note with a Newtonian on an EQ mount, whether it be for visual or photo, you will get the eyepiece or camera at all sorts of awkward angles that are uncomfortable for long periods. This is more a problem for visual but it can be overcome by rotating the tube slightly when an object is in an awkward part of the sky. (You will need a small 2-3 step ladder too).

The guys at BINTEL in Glebe are great and they know their stuff and they are genuine in their advice. You could not buy from a better bunch of guys.

Try to avoid aperture fever as it is very contagious and can be spread by looking through bigger telescopes but also simply by reading about bigger telescope on this and other forums. I cured my aperture fever by buying a Tele Vue 60 and this is now my best and most used telescope. What this telescope can show will simply amaze you!

Note on tracking: An EQ mount is needed for long exposure tracking. A computerised Alt-Az mount can track but you get field rotation that is noticeable especially in longer exposures.

Welcome to IIS and enjoy your holiday and your telescope.
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