|
Jase - as you say - that's a taxed mount at the moment - and it will be the next major component to be upgraded when funds become available! Tracking seems surperb at the moment. Pick a star, leave it for 2 hours and its wandered about 30% from the centre of a low magnification eye-piece so I am continually drift aligning this rig. A pro would have this sorted weeks ago, but I'm learning!
I didn't talk about the flatter field because I've heard it but I don't really understand it in laymens terms yet!
To my thinking my upgrade path is likely to go:
1. Weld extra supports to scope pier to reduce vibration
2. Add motor / robo focuser to SCT
3. Possibly convert Megrez to APO and install a 10:1 fine focuser
4. Get focal reducers
5. Maybe get a Canon 400D for astro photography
6. Add more computing resources to the astro lab
7. Motorise the dome roof and slew it to the telescope's movements
8. Get a premium mount (Atlux, Tak, CGE or a G11 in that preference order).
So this might take 18 months or 4 years to afford - or never - who can tell? But at present I have alot to learn before I have the skills to use this rig anywhere near its capability, but God its fun learning each night!
|