offaxis guiding - has anyone actually used one of these

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by gaston

Hello David,

I would suggest the SX lodestar as well. It is very sensitive with an extended NIR quantum efficient.
A very elegant, compact well-made design, I love mine.
Tests done to compare with the ORION starshoot (a CMOS sensor) have shown a bout 10x more signal for the lodestar versus the ORION (binned 2x2 to match the pixel sizes).
Also the lodestar is a 16 bits camera, not a 8 bits, with very small dark current even at ambient and powered on since a while.
It works perfectly with the ONAG. Have a look to the ONAG's NIR guiding page, the chip featured there is the lodestar one (Sony Exview series, ICX 429AL):

http://www.innovationsforesight.com/NIRGuiding.htm

In general the ONAG will have a NIR efficient around 0.6 to 1.0 magnitude less than the full spectrum with such chips.
For instance with my C11 at F/10 I usual can work with 9th magnitude stars at 1 second guider exposure. If you increase the exposure time to 2.5 s you get one more magnitude, or 10th.
Very low noise chip.

P.S: If you select this one you will need a C to T mount adapter since the lodestar uses a C mount thread system:

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_c2tt.htm

Part #C2TT

Clear skies!

Gaston

thanks for the info Gaston

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Hmm
Just noted the ONAG connection....could it be the camera(s) you have are not sensitive enough in the IR region???

yes i think you are right stupid me

[Poita (Peter)]

The lodestar works like a champion for me as well.

[h0ughy (David)]

in the meantime would the ATiK IC16 work better? the lodestar isnt available at the moment - have to wait a few weeks. its ruddy cloudy again.... geez this is frustraiting - it must be the worlds longest scope setup ever?

[Terry B]

For a comparison I have now got my STi. It seems super sensitive compared to my old QHY5. I have it on my new LISA spectrograph. SBIG seem to have caught up with supply of them now. It comes with CCDSoft also.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Re guide cameras I went from a QHY5 to a DSI II, then on to the ATiK16ic and finally the Lodestar. (BTW it comes with all the cables etc -"plug and play forever")
The Lodestar was the best. The ATiK16ic, being cooled, did a creditable job and is still used....

[g__day (Matthew)]

Merlin - which DSI II did you use - the mono or colour and normal or Pro version? I find the DSI II Mono Pro quite a nice guide camera.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Matthew,
Yes, it was the DSI II pro (mono) - OK but the cooled AtiK was better...
(BTW the DSI II pro has the same chip as the Lodestar! Amazing what a set of different electrons can do.)

[g__day (Matthew)]

h0ughty,

Could you please give us a review of your experiences with the ONAG now that you'd had it for three quarters of a year?

I would be very interested in hear how well the sum of your guiding gear works.

I would also love to see shots of what your guiding screen (PHD or MaximDL)? looks like - at focus and either side of focus. If you frame a shot of M42 for instance how well formed are the stars in the ONAG around the focal point?

Many thanks,

Matthew

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by g__day

h0ughty,

Could you please give us a review of your experiences with the ONAG now that you'd had it for three quarters of a year?

I would be very interested in hear how well the sum of your guiding gear works.

I would also love to see shots of what your guiding screen (PHD or MaximDL)? looks like - at focus and either side of focus. If you frame a shot of M42 for instance how well formed are the stars in the ONAG around the focal point?

Many thanks,

Matthew

Mattttttthewew,

the weather has been cr@p and there have been two major events where the 14" was retired to the warm room. but the weather didnt allow it back out. I am hoping to get this back up and running soon. one thing that is a problem is that i think the 14 is too large for the 2.3m dome slit. i promise i will do it