How to Mount a Guidescope on a C8?

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by JohnG

f/14-15 is not unusual for a refractor, was how they coped with the excessive colour in the image.

I would suggest around an 80mm/f/7 or thereabouts.

I dont use a guidescope anymore because of the duel chip in the ST4K but I have provision on the TSA-102 to carry a guidescope, an 80mm SW ED Pro when I use the DSLR.

My field setup with the GM-8 is the SW ED80 Pro with a WO 66SD as the guidescope, using a Q-Guider as an autoguider and the DSLR on the 80mm, makes for an excellent widefield setup.

Cheers

One other thought. If you got an ED80 ($499) from Andrews then you would have a great guide scope. Also you could switch and guide through the C8 and image through the ED80.

Paul

[Matty P (Matt)]

I might consider getting an ED80 for a GS and a imaging scope. Thanks for the suggestion.

I was just wondering...

How will I use my C8 as a Guidescope? Do I just switch around the cameras so one is imaging the object and the other is guiding on a star?

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by Matty P

I might consider getting an ED80 for a GS and a imaging scope. Thanks for the suggestion.

I was just wondering...

How will I use my C8 as a Guidescope? Do I just switch around the cameras so one is imaging the object and the other is guiding on a star?

Yes,

Just switch the roles of the scopes. This way you can get some nice widefield from the ED80, i think 600 mm FL and less with a field flattener (or people have also used the WO 66) and around 1200 mm with a .63 reducer on the C8.

When you are just starting out you will find the FL of the ED80 much less demanding of really good polar alignment than the C8. Basically it is better to start the learning process at a shorter FL.

When I started out i was trying to image through a C11 at 2700 mm, eventually i gave up...When my skills improve I will try again

Paul

[JohnG (John)]

If you are going to get an ED80, make sure it is the ED80 Pro, it has the FPL53 glass and is a fine wide field imaging instrument.

A couple of shots using the SW ED80 Pro:

http://www.pbase.com/takman2/ed80_photos

I have yet to use the WO Flat 2, reducer with this scope as I have found the field quite flat, see the full frame shots.

Cheers

[Matty P (Matt)]

I have decided to get the Losmandy Dovetail Plate from Bintel to mount the guidescope.

Just a question.

If I get the ED80 and because it will be mounted on top of the C8. Can I use the ED80 to image whilst mounted on top of the C8? or will I have to remove it?

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by Matty P

I have decided to get the Losmandy Dovetail Plate from Bintel to mount the guidescope.

Just a question.

If I get the ED80 and because it will be mounted on top of the C8. Can I use the ED80 to image whilst mounted on top of the C8? or will I have to remove it?

Hi,

If you removed it then you wouldnt have a guide scope.

It would be far more stable without the C8, but the EQ6 should be able to handle the C8 and the ED80. So try guiding through the C8 and imaging through the ED80.

Paul