#1  
Old 14-08-2008, 08:05 PM
Prickly
Registered User

Prickly is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 347
QHY5 - colour or mono

Im planning to get a QHY5 autoguider and trying to work out which way to go: colour or mono. I would also like to use it for looking at planets. Probably it will get more use with autoguiding I suspect.

The mono is more sensitive and with filters etc you can probably do nice planetary shots. But the filters / filter wheel is quite expensive I gather (Im guessing maybe around $700 or so?).

On the other hand the colour seems to do some pretty amazing planetary imaging and even though it cant quite match in resolution doesnt probably suffer from planetary rotation so much presumably.

See here some colour images.
http://www.qhyccd.com/QHY5.html
(OK - yes an 5 inch apo too)

Overall Im thinking the mono should be best but I look at those jupiter images and I just wonder. Probably much easier than all the filters etc.
But the sensitivity may not be so great - has anyone tried a colour QHY as an autoguider? Id be using a C90. How do you think it would go?

I thought a post to the group might help sway my decision in one direction.

Cheers
David
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 14-08-2008, 08:33 PM
Bassnut's Avatar
Bassnut (Fred)
Narrowfield rules!

Bassnut is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Torquay
Posts: 5,064
The QHY5 mono is excellent for guiding, dont try to go cheap and get a colour one to use for imaging too, get another cam for that, sheesh, cheapskate .
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 14-08-2008, 08:40 PM
Prickly
Registered User

Prickly is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 347
I like your thinking there . Not that an orion filter wheel and set of astronomik filters in the Xmas stocking would upset me too much either.

Im probably swaying to mono but thought someone out there might tell me the colour was also brilliant. Ultimately you probably have more choice of guidestars with the mono and it has to be better.

What sort of magnitude can you pick up with 10secs or so with a mono by way of example do you reckon (depends on scope too of course)?

Cheers
David
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 14-08-2008, 08:57 PM
Bassnut's Avatar
Bassnut (Fred)
Narrowfield rules!

Bassnut is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Torquay
Posts: 5,064
I have never had to go longer than 2 secs guiding exposures with the mono QHY5 on a ST80 guide scope, period. I dont know what the min mag is, who cares, it works. Beware, the colour version is less sensitive, I wouldnt bother. Get a QHY8 for imaging ;-). Just as a byline, the QHY5 starts to get marginal for guiding at 15secs or more, from experience on my automated GRAS rig, but with my home rig, it has been brilliant at 2 secs for everything.

Guiding is the single biggest influence on image quality, the mono QHY5 makes it a no brainer for most rigs, dont mess with it, set and forget. Worry about imaging seperately.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 14-08-2008, 10:06 PM
Prickly
Registered User

Prickly is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 347
Thanks Fred,

Its hard to argue with a winning formula. I think the mono is the way to go.

I gather the QHY5's dont require any additional adapters etc with the Eq6 because the pin layout is ST4 compatible. If anyone confirm this that would be appreciated.

Cheers
David
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 14-08-2008, 10:58 PM
mrsnipey's Avatar
mrsnipey
Verified Astronomy Noob

mrsnipey is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Corinda, Australia
Posts: 199
That's correct David. I got a cable with my QHY5 (mono) and it works perfectly with the EQ6. Plugs straight in.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 15-08-2008, 06:13 AM
Prickly
Registered User

Prickly is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 347
Thanks All,

Im decided now. Mono. Thanks for clarifying too there are no issues to with the Eq6 pro.

Cheers
David
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 15-08-2008, 07:04 AM
mrsnipey's Avatar
mrsnipey
Verified Astronomy Noob

mrsnipey is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Corinda, Australia
Posts: 199
Good choice if you're using it for guiding. I can't comment on imaging with it as I only use it for guiding. It's amazing how good it is. It tracks for hours on even the faintest star on 0.5 sec exposure.
The only part I had problems with was getting the right settings in PHD Guide but that was my fault for not reading the instructions. I never do.

Round stars await...
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 15-08-2008, 08:05 AM
Terry B's Avatar
Terry B
Country living & viewing

Terry B is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Armidale
Posts: 2,789
I use my mono guider through a 120 x 600mm achromat. For most areas of the sky I get a guide star with a 0.5 sec esposure. It is uncommon not to have a suitable star with a 1 sec exposure. It is very sensitive.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 15-08-2008, 03:20 PM
Prickly
Registered User

Prickly is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 347
Thanks Terry and MrS,

If it guides then everything else is a bonus - and it looks like it does that well.

Cheers
David
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 11:09 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement