Dream astrophotography gear

[Fofommp (Fortune)]

Just a random question to get opinions.
If your bank account suddenly flexed with $20,000, what’s the first stupidly awesome astrophotography thing you’d waste it on before responsibility (wife) kicks in?

[joshman (Josh)]

right now? Transport and a few years of dark sky hosting for my current setup.


EDIT: Make that a Full frame camera and filters, then transport and a few years of hosting with whatever is left.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

An APO triplet around 120mm, a strain wave head, good tripod and reasonable OSC camera.

[TrevorW]

A very expensive telescope mount, as a good mount makes the world of difference

[Bart]

I second Trevor with a quality mount. A good second hand AP or a Software Bisque, 10 Micron, etc. would give good service, or new if you can afford it.

[DJT (David)]

A mount…..always the mount…if it’s a good one, you should never notice that you have it

Astrophysics and SB..hang around for trump to continue trashing his economy and you might get a half decent exchange rate in the near future or get one second hand

Always the mount..

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by DJT

A mount…..always the mount….

Ditto.

A stable accurate mount will allow any good optical system approach its potential....as the atmosphere buggers up the rest.

The converse is rarely a problem.

Optically, if you want a superb instrument, then *anything* from Astro-Physics will not only perform brilliantly, but if well cared for, will appreciate in value

[Crater101 (Warren)]

An observatory, with whatever is left over going to the best mount I could afford to put in it, as has already been mentioned.

[toc (Tim)]

I would probably get an Astroworx 10" F4 reflector, or a Beamtech CDK250 .

My current mount (iOptron CEM70) already tracks at 0.3-0.5, but might be tempted to get an CEM120.

[AstroViking (Steve)]

This might blow the budget a little bit - a 200mm, F12 Nikon on a matching Nikon equatorial mount....

Anyone care to suggest a suitable camera for this beast?

V.

[N1 (Mirko)]

Originally Posted by AstroViking

This might blow the budget a little bit - a 200mm, F12 Nikon on a matching Nikon equatorial mount....

Anyone care to suggest a suitable camera for this beast?

V.

Now we're talkin'
ASI178 should work well in this, and keep the budget excess down...

[N1 (Mirko)]

Originally Posted by Fofommp

Just a random question to get opinions.
If your bank account suddenly flexed with $20,000, what’s the first stupidly awesome astrophotography thing you’d waste it on before responsibility (wife) kicks in?

I'd be able to buy the ingredients for, and take some time off, to try and put together, a coronagraph that can actually capture the Sun's corona.