Astrophotography Equipment Endless Pit!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I am still doing basic Astrophotography with a modified Toucam, and yet although basic, the equipment is adding up!

So many people in here say that the imaging bug is an endless equipment pit, where you will keep needing more and more to get that 'happy feeling' image.

YOUR NOT WRONG!

I have put together some labelled images of the current equipment I use to get my images to the standard they are presently at. It just keeps growing!!!

Not visible in the images but also included are Focal Reducer, Filters, a mass of cables, hair dryer, etc.

1. The Cameras I use
2. The controlroom set-up
3. The finderscope 'wireless' camera monitor (TV) which sits behind me
4. Controlroom and Observatory

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

So many people in here say that the imaging bug is an endless equipment pit, where you will keep needing more and more to get that 'happy feeling' image.

YOUR NOT WRONG!

Thats why i let you blokes do all the hard work and I just get to relax and enjoy the images here on IIS

[matt]

Hey Ken. Where do I find one of those finderscope TVs with the crosshairs on it in Pic 3?

Gene Krantz would be jealous of that set-up, mate

[mill (Martin)]

Some people need more than nasa

[erick (Eric)]

Fan heater..................check
Kettle..........................

[gbeal]

Gotta ask Mate, why the rubber bands?? Do I need some for my camera setup?

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by gbeal

Gotta ask Mate, why the rubber bands?? Do I need some for my camera setup?

Guess - Snake Valley - low thermal coefficient?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Jezz Ken, c'mon mate you letting the site down a bit there

[leon]

Yea I want one of those tellies too.

Leon

[timelord (Al)]

Maybe I'd better double the size of my planned observatory before I start building! Curious to know the dimensions of your obs.
Alex.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by timelord

Maybe I'd better double the size of my planned observatory before I start building! Curious to know the dimensions of your obs.
Alex.

Internally 3'10" x 3'10" and 3'10" high at roof peak.

Externally 4' x 4' x 4'

If you want to image from 'inside' an obs you will need a minimum of 3mx3m.

Originally Posted by matt

Hey Ken. Where do I find one of those finderscope TVs with the crosshairs on it in Pic 3?

At NASA's Crosshaired TV shop

Originally Posted by matt

Gene Krantz would be jealous of that set-up, mate

Who's Gene Krantz?

Originally Posted by gbeal

Gotta ask Mate, why the rubber bands?? Do I need some for my camera setup?

Gary, the one on the imaging cam just holds it up against the cardboard tube so it doesn't slide out. I rarely use the tube. So that rubber band isn't normally there. I used it for a Sunspot image yesterday. The one on the guidecam stops it turning when the mount slews.

Originally Posted by erick

Fan heater..................check
Kettle.......................... ???

12 feet away in the kitchen

Originally Posted by [1ponders

] Jezz Ken, c'mon mate you letting the site down a bit there

I'm trying Paul, I'm trying!

Originally Posted by leon

Yea I want one of those tellies too.

Leon

Leon, I can probably get you one, I think NASA might have another spare one

Originally Posted by Starkler

Thats why i let you blokes do all the hard work and I just get to relax and enjoy the images here on IIS

Ya cheat!!!

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Whooaaaaaa - what a set up!

Excellent Ken - very impressed.

Can you elborate a little more on the ED100 focuser attached to the ED80? Obviously that is not standard with the ED80, so curious to know about the set up.


Cheers Petra

[matt]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Who's Gene Krantz?

One of the Big Kahunas at NASA, particularly during the Apollo years.

You probably bumped into him at NASA's Crosshaired TV shop and didn't realise!!!

The fair-haired fella with a different waistcoat on every day?

[duncan]

Hi all,
Ken if my missus ever sees this thread and all that gear the only imaging i'll ever be doing is dreaming at night.
I told her all i needed was a camera and laptop,LOL.
Cheers,
Duncan