|
Hi Mark
Good to hear that we have a future expert on the forum. it will be interesting to hear about your projects. I think variable stars is a most interesting area in these days of ccds. Probably an area that amateurs can still provide a useful contribution too. My uncle who was ex-curator and deputy astronomer in charge at Mt Stromlo actually thought that was a good area some years ago. Gravitation microlensing is another really amazingly interesting area.
My interests are varied. I tinker around at home with little projects with fairly modest equipment. I have an achromatic petzval refractor (f5.7) and a 10inch f4 Newtonian. I have tried a little imaging with my unmodified dslr and filters and plan to do some narrowband on the eq6. I also quite enjoy looking a planets and am considering a binoviewer in the near future. Maybe one day a ZWO 1600 chip. I am not quite as patient or as into the imaging as many here on the forum. No 10 hour + shots I'm afraid (hence the 10inch f4 which I may try at f3.6 with the skywatcher 0.9 coma corrector). Don't get me wrong - the images people take here are simply spectacular and very unique and I really enjoy looking at them but I don't have quite the same patience I don't think!
As an aside I usually stack 30sec shots at iso 8000 (120 or so) with my sony a6000 and the results, while probably not up to the standards here, are better than you might expect. I thought your idea on stacking many shorter images was interesting.
I find it very relaxing on the astrocamps too. Nothing like being out under a black country sky doing a bit of viewing.
Hope you find something that suits for your telescope. Pity it is hard for you to get your SN telescope across to where you are. I guess if you are looking at heavy imaging equipment you may need to modify the focusser as you have said. The starlock technology sounds amazing but I would say setting up and aligning the eq6 is much easier now than it used to be with the procedure that helps you to align the mount. It tracks pretty well and is well aligned for the lower focal lengths (and faster f ratios!) that I use. Some of the newer versions of the eq6 today look even better built than mine.
Keep us all posted on your work. Maybe one day the 1.3meter telescope will be at your disposal!
Hope to see you at a star party some time. Let me know if you are ever heading to south pacific star party.
Best regards
David
|