Hi all
Could I please get some help with some issues that I can't find answers to in my searches?
This is my first post on this very helpfull site and hope I can get some advice regarding
a new observatory I am building on Mornington Peninsula.
I have a C8 in my observatory in Melbourne and have been doing AP successfully on DSOs for a couple of years via SGP. Full robotic. I plan to disassemble and move NEQ6 Pro and pier to my Peninsula site. I was thinking of upgrading to a C11 with Hyperstar and maybe a Starizona LF flattened and reducer.
Currently I use a Nikon D5100 and will still use it however thinking of getting a ZWO of sorts perhaps cooled.
My dilema are
1) will the difference in light gathering between a C8 and C11 be worth it, particularly since Hyperstar will probably saturate some objects within 60 sec exposures.
2) For visual use is there a big enough improvement in perceived brightness to justify the $4000 Australian to by the C11
3) What would be the best colour Camera for Hyperstar on either the C8 or C11?. Is cooling necessary with such short exposures? I would probably take 120x 60 sec subs. I want to make sure pixels are big enough for fast subs but small enough to make cropped images of smallish DSOs 3'-5' when necessary. Nb.on a C8 Hyperstar NIKON D5100 has 2.5" pixels, is that too big? Alternatively ZWO ASI 183 had 2.4micron pixels for 1.24" (but much slower). What is the best trade off? (Seeing at Southern Peninsula is much better than inner suburbs of Melbourne.)
More Background thinking
I plan to get the new Celestron focuser that will work via ASCOM on SGP so focusing should not be a problem.
For a bit more background I currently take 10 minute subs over 8 hours with an OAG but would be happy to use Hyperstar with a 50mm Guidescope and Barlow to get 300mm FL.
Also I thought about Edge HD 1100 but can't see the value in it if useing Hyperstar which bypasses the expensive tube optics and figure an LF flattened reducer would bring a standard C11 near an Edge with Reducer
at much reduced cost. Same goes with C8 V C8 Edge. Do people agree?
NB I have moded my C8 with DIY mirror stabilizers and reduced flop considerably.
Thanks for reading this and if you would be able to give me the benefit of your thoughts and experience I would be very grateful.
NB. There is an attached poll but I would really also like written comments and suggestions.
Regards
Jim