Quality Refractor

[TheDecepticon]

Thanks heaps guys, great info and advice.

I think I'm on the right track with choices. I would prefer the longer focal ratio, however I want to keep the weight down. If I end up going guide scope insted of OAG, I will make sure it is a solid mounted affair with very little flex, and a decent focuser to prevent flex there also.

I think my choice is coming down to Tak or AP, however, I stilll have a bit of saving to do and time to tease myself by researching each product.

A new mount is in the wings as well, there is no doubt about that either. I have had the chance to be up close and a bit personal with an AP900, which I quite like, I think it would suit me well.

All has been authorized by the High Commisioner for War, so smiles all round from me, especially as I'm still young enough to get this type of gear which will serve me very well for many years and put it to good use.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Yes, perhaps now because I have a Newtonian with multiple areas that can flex or move but with the Starfire a fixed APO lens in a tube...not really and I think those comparison images speak for themselves really, in fact they suggest that I would still have been able to get high res results at much longer FL

Mike

Mike I reckon you should experiment with 2 autoguiders if not an OAG.

Use the SBIG STX or the Italian Guys technique. Although he used an STL with self guiding plus a guide scope. Perhaps much the same as an OAG but there are times when an OAG isn't feasible due to lack of backfocus.

Have them out of phase with each other or one short and one long.
One on the dovetail one on your guide scope. The guide scope short and the one on your dovetail long.

Either guide 1 second exposures on your guide scope and 1 minute on the dovetail mounted one or guide scope 1 second and dovetail every say 10 seconds or experiment to find if there is an optimum timing.

Or mount a 2nd guider on your finderscope like the little orion 50mm mini guider package for around $319 at Bintel.

I plan on experimenting with autoguiding over the next several months and come up with improvements to this black art.

I have several ideas.

Greg.

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Mike I reckon you should experiment with 2 autoguiders if not an OAG.

Use the SBIG STX or the Italian Guys technique. Although he used an STL with self guiding plus a guide scope.
Greg.

Can u point me to this person/link so i can see what they do ?

Thanks.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by Mighty_oz

Can u point me to this person/link so i can see what they do ?

Thanks.

If you look in the promo piece for the STX they mention his name. Then google his name and you find his site.

Greg.

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

Thanks Greg.