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Old 20-04-2008, 11:02 PM
jase (Jason)
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 3,916
You could potentially modify it Chris. I'd need to see the business end of the baby Q to make further comment. Monte wont have a problem fitting the takometer on his FSQ as its an the FSQ-106N, not the new FSQ-ED (but as I mentioned Don Goldman (Astrodon) has the solution for the new Q (FSQ-ED). Quote from an email I got from him.

"Yes, I've developed a way to make the back end of the new Q look like the old FSQ. For that, you need the TAK CAA rotator. You also need a 92-to-98mm adaptor that screws into the back of the new Q. The CAA screws onto that. Also, the adaptor needs to have a 4" flat area that is about 10 mm wide for the TAKometer motor plate to attach. These parts have been made and Texas Nautical is supplying me with the CAAs. "

If you are really keen to motorise your CAA for the FS-60C you may want to ping Don an email. I use the CAA a lot, but once its is set for the target I don't touch it throughout the night. If you shoot multiple objects a night, then it might be plausible for you to use a motorised CAA for object framing. I'm a one object over many nights type of guy to collect as much data as possible so I don't have issues. Of course the real benefit of an instrument rotator is to find a guidestar, but at the wide field focal lengths we are talking about that is not a problem.

In your situation, I suspect you'd get much greater benefit motorising your focuser with a Robofocus unit (if you haven't already done so). That way as the night air cools, you don't have to continuously head outside and refocus every 30-40mins to make sure you're in the CFZ. The FS-60C operating at F/5.9 has a CFZ of 76 microns so it wouldn't take too much expansion/contraction to drop out of the CFZ. Not as bad as the FSQ at 55 microns. I script the autofocus routine for every 40 mins to ensure I'm in the zone all night (occurs between subs) with the FSQ-ED. Its a minor pain (necessary evil), but I'd prefer to ensure imaging is productive.

Finally, there are alternatives - http://www.optecinc.com/optec_023.htm
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