CDK17 on a Paramount ME and Pegasus Pier

gregbradley · #1 16-08-2010, 07:33 PM

I installed my Planewave CDK17 and Paramount ME mount today.

Rally gave me some helpful advice. It needs more counterweights believe it or not so I will sorting that out next:

http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/...27500517/large

Here is a fairly recent photo of my observatory:

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/125486267

Here is a shot of the gorgeous TEC fluorite 180mm triplet"

http://www.pbase.com/image/127500629

I also got a Tak 4 inch reducer to work on my TEC using Precise Part adapters. I am using it now. It gives F5.25 at 180mm APO quality.

I would not be surprised if this is the only one in the world. I am not aware of anyone else imaging at F5.25 with 180mm APO aperture.

Its like Takahashi finally made a 180mm FSQ!

Greg.

DavidU (Dave) · #2 16-08-2010, 08:00 PM

What a fantastic setup you have there. That 180mm is a beaut.

Alchemy (Clive) · #3 16-08-2010, 08:01 PM

Pretty incredible setup. Right out there that's for sure

Peter Ward · #4 16-08-2010, 08:44 PM

Looks great!

Extra counterweights are always useful eg:

http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/pme_scope.jpg

jase (Jason) · #5 16-08-2010, 09:41 PM

Greg

What happened with the through mount cabling?

That is one of the pleasures of the PME (aside from the feature rich MKS4000 TCS I should add). No more tangled cables! You'll probably have to dismount the CDK17 to sort it out, but its worth it!

Great set up. Images of equipment is one thing...images of celestial objects through the equipment is another...

"Show me the money!"

Cheers

renormalised (Carl) · #6 16-08-2010, 09:50 PM

That is one great setup!!!

rally · #7 16-08-2010, 10:34 PM

Greg,

Good to see you are on the way, won't be long before you have a 100 point model and that thing will be singing !
BTW - you might like to tune the slewing acceleration rates down a tad too.

Just an afterthought - can you remove the C/weight safety stop and extend the weights all down another cm or two to reach balance if you are so close ?

Jase,

Give the Guy a break

It only went on this afternoon !

Cheers

Rally

jase (Jason) · #8 16-08-2010, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rally

Jase,

Give the Guy a break

It only went on this afternoon !

Cheers

Rally

Yeah I shouldn't talk! Mine is still sitting in boxes on the lounge room floor.

I'll get my act together soon!

Moon (James) · #9 16-08-2010, 11:00 PM

Greg,
Great to see you the scope up on the mount at last. I'm looking forward to seeing some CDK images in the not too distant future.
Have you decided to start with The SkyX or version 6?
James

Bassnut (Fred) · #10 16-08-2010, 11:25 PM

Looking very smick Greg.

Octane (Humayun) · #11 16-08-2010, 11:38 PM

That's so hot right now.

Do want.

H

gregbradley · #12 17-08-2010, 08:18 AM

Thanks for the replies, it is very exciting. It is a very solid looking focuser
and the whole appearance looks very well made.

And oh my god all the adapters fit and I don't need any! There's a first for everything.

Greg
.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rally

Greg,

Good to see you are on the way, won't be long before you have a 100 point model and that thing will be singing !
BTW - you might like to tune the slewing acceleration rates down a tad too.

Just an afterthought - can you remove the C/weight safety stop and extend the weights all down another cm or two to reach balance if you are so close ?

Jase,

Give the Guy a break

It only went on this afternoon !

Cheers

Rally

I think there may be a small amount of room. But it is a fair bit out of balance. I suspect its more than one counterweight's worth.

Thanks for your advice today, that was very helpful.

I'll be using The Sky V6. What are the advantages of the Sky X?

The shot is just everything put together today. There are some cables already through the mount like a USB cable for the camera. The Proline has a built in usb and power hub so it will handle the autoguider and filterwheel.

That just leaves the scope 12V supply and a USB cable.

I need to organise more counterweights before I can image with the CDK.

Greg.

Doomsayer · #13 17-08-2010, 08:46 AM

Should be a killer combo.
I'd recommend AAG tpoint mapper for automating your mapping with Tpoint. It is very easy to use and it is free! It requires CCDsoft or Maxim plus Pinpoint for platesolving. It really is a joy to watch the PME running an automated 100 or 200 point model.

guy

Bassnut (Fred) · #14 17-08-2010, 06:38 PM

Yes, Guys right, AAG tpoint automapper is joy to use (with sky 6).

A significant advantage of the PME is the huge range of software available to make it really sing, and save LOTS of time getting it really, really smick, night after night, its worth the time investigating.

Ive been trying out Sky X lately, its very good. If you havent got pinpoint yet (and BTW did you get Tpoint with the PME?), then consider Sky X before you spend any more money and learning curve time on software (incl Sky 6).

Moon (James) · #15 17-08-2010, 07:42 PM

+1 vote for AAG Tpoint Mapper (You'll need it for the polar alignment.)
James

Bassnut (Fred) · #16 17-08-2010, 07:55 PM

Yes, specially for polar alignment, its by far the quickest way, arcsec accurracy within 15 mins all up incl stuffing around (20 points, 10 sec exposures bin3, 2 or 3 adjustment/runs), tells you exactly how many knob tweaks required, insane.

gregbradley · #17 17-08-2010, 08:00 PM

Thanks for that recommendation. I'll download that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomsayer

Should be a killer combo.
I'd recommend AAG tpoint mapper for automating your mapping with Tpoint. It is very easy to use and it is free! It requires CCDsoft or Maxim plus Pinpoint for platesolving. It really is a joy to watch the PME running an automated 100 or 200 point model.

guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Yes, Guys right, AAG tpoint automapper is joy to use (with sky 6).

A significant advantage of the PME is the huge range of software available to make it really sing, and save LOTS of time getting it really, really smick, night after night, its worth the time investigating.

Ive been trying out Sky X lately, its very good. If you havent got pinpoint yet (and BTW did you get Tpoint with the PME?), then consider Sky X before you spend any more money and learning curve time on software (incl Sky 6).

I have Tpoint, Orchestrate, Precision PE, Sky 6.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon

+1 vote for AAG Tpoint Mapper (You'll need it for the polar alignment.)
James

Sounds good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Yes, specially for polar alignment, its by far the quickest way, arcsec accurracy within 15 mins all up incl stuffing around (20 points, 10 sec exposures bin3, 2 or 3 adjustment/runs), tells you exactly how many knob tweaks required, insane.

I like the sound of that.

Thanks for all the help it makes life a lot easier with the learning curve.

Greg.

Bassnut (Fred) · #18 17-08-2010, 08:13 PM

Well, if you have Tpoint and Sky 6 already, then get pinpoint/AAG Tpoint mapper and use DL and yr set.

Gaud I get so confused, spend time susing it out greg, there are soooo many choices with the PME, but use em, its worth it.

gregbradley · #19 17-08-2010, 08:48 PM

Thanks Fred.

I downloaded AAG T mapper.

Pinpoint is a Maxim product. Perhaps for later.

Greg.

Doomsayer · #20 17-08-2010, 09:36 PM

Pinpoint - the full version - is needed for AAG tpoint mapper to work.
DC-3 Dreams, the people that also supply ACP observatory control software, sell it. I don't use Maxim, but I think Maxim only has a light version of Pinpoint built in.

guy