How to modify a 6inch newt for imaging

[danielsun]

Originally Posted by kinetic

Me too Jen
That pic of Daniel is just dying for a caption...

'How can I break it to her I put the mirror in backwards'

And was the towel to catch Eric's blood?...
Watch what you're bloody doing Eric!!!

Steve.

Also Jen, I can't remember if you had an RA tracking box on your mount or not. If not try to get one for the camp, it will make a huge difference as far as starting to get some shots down.

[richardda1st (Richard)]

Of course I'm serious.

Isn't cutting the tube out of the question?

Drilling a few holes is no big deal, but as I said before drilling the draw tube hole may be an issue. It all depends on the diameter of the draw tube hole as compared to the spacing of the focuser mounting holes. You may need to make a mounting plate that holds the focuser, and to cover the existing draw tube hole, maybe. This way the scope can be readily returned to it's original state, plus a few hole grommets.

Of course if money is no issue a low profile focuser, assuming it's low enough to give you focus is by far the best option.

Eric's fix also has a good chance to work well, definitely worth a try, so long as it holds collimation with no trauma to the scope.

[clem]

It looks like that you and I have the same 6 inch Skywatcher Newtonian, 1000mm focal length. 1.25inch rack and pinion focuser. But the focuser is different?
When I was contemplating on the Skywatcher the guy in the shop where I bought it from said that the part that holds the telescope eyepiece can be unscrewed and a T-adapter for a dslr can be attached directly on it which gives enough space to focus, albeit a very close one, 2-5mm to the edge of the metal where the drawtube is attached. Yours obviously don't have the same thread on the focuser or you wouldn't have gone through with the modifications.

My scope came with an EQ-3 mount and goto. I would love a heavier mount but I have a very bad back. Despite this I am quite happy with the images I get from this setup from my backyard. I have to get a lot of short subs though. Because the RA tracking is quite bad (it jumps two or three times in one cycle). PEC seems to correct for this, problem is PEC is not permanent with this type of goto. I thought about guiding with this mount but I have to think of the extra weight with a guidescope or the extra focus travel if I use a splitter. I have attached some photos of my newt, so you can see what I mean. We wish you the best!

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Originally Posted by ZeroID

Well done Suzy.

Ummm? Brent???

Why Suzy? It's Jen who is doing this.

Nice little shot of Omega Jen my sweet, LOTS of light for only a six second sub too!

Sounds like you are in expert hands, it all helps heaps when you have some kindly IIS chaps and lovely ladies helping you out.

Keep it up Padawan, let go of your feelings and feel the dark side flow through you....

Cheers

Chris

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by erick

We shall insert the attached in due course!

From post #11 below. Have now inserted the spacers and springs and it certainly looks much better - both from a stability and an asthetic point of view. Collimated easily (within the limits of a wobbly draw tube).

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

Ummm? Brent???

Why Suzy? It's Jen who is doing this.

Nice little shot of Omega Jen my sweet, LOTS of light for only a six second sub too!

Sounds like you are in expert hands, it all helps heaps when you have some kindly IIS chaps and lovely ladies helping you out.

Keep it up Padawan, let go of your feelings and feel the dark side flow through you....

Cheers

Chris

Ooops!! sorry, my bad. So many threads, so little time.

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

Ummm? Brent???

Why Suzy? It's Jen who is doing this.

Nice little shot of Omega Jen my sweet, LOTS of light for only a six second sub too!

Sounds like you are in expert hands, it all helps heaps when you have some kindly IIS chaps and lovely ladies helping you out.

Keep it up Padawan, let go of your feelings and feel the dark side flow through you....

Cheers

Chris

Thanks Chris it can only get better from here on with lots more practice woohooo


Eric has now put the springs and spacers on and it seems much more stable now and easier to collimate i can do it mhyself now Thanks Eric i will post some more pics soon