Yep, I agree, and some. In the D100/Mewlon or whatever exercise I simply use the viewfinder.
Another higher powered finderscope, aimed at exactly the same as the chip sees perhaps.
With something like a "real" CCD I would suggest a flip mirror.
Another maybe is to use DSC, as most will get the object smack on the chip these days. Bet you have more than a few dollars in your swearword jar though Louie.
Louie does your mount have a high precision go to? Maybe if you use a high power eyepiece (reticle) and sync on three or four stars around the area to be imaged you might get closer?
Hi Paul, sync on stars in the area is a good idea but it's difficult when ive got a camera on the end of the telescope . That is to say I would have to remove the camera and put an eyepiece in and then the balance of the mount would be different .
Louie,
then a lightweight, alignable guidescope looks like the go.
For autoguiding I use a simple ST80 (actually a NextStar 80), and Losmandy rings. This allows me sufficient movement to locate a suitable star. I reckon you also need this sort of setup, but with the ability to exactly align with the centre of the chip. The what you see through the guidescope will be what is also on the chip. Lastly, a framing eyepiece may give you the FOV of your respective chip.
Gary
Simple, they have a series of different sized rectangular frames visible when you look through it. Much like a crosshair eyepiece. Your cameras FOV will correespond to one of the frames, and that gives you an approximation of what the chip will see/record. Meade made them.
Gary
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