10 inch Reflector Dob - Able to image?

[tippsy25]

G'day all!
I got a 10" reflector on a dob mount. i've had it for around 6 months...and im enjoying it alot. But...

i would like to be able to take some images (orion neb, jupiter etc.) SO: is it at all possible to take even half way decent images with a 10 inch on a dob mount?

obviously not haveing tracking eqiupment would make it so you could only take short exposures but im wondering if that would produce even a half decent image (maybe even colour?) i am in quite light polluted skies but have access to dark skies quite easily.

Sorry if this is all basic stuff but i really dont have a clue imaging and cameras...
thanks

[erick (Eric)]

Get your climbing gear ready! My understanding is that it's a significant learning curve! Search this site for threads on getting into astrophotography. And look through the articles here:- http://www.iceinspace.com.au/projects.html

Re tracking with a dob-mounted reflector - read up on "equatorial table".

Cheers
Eric

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

Mike (iceman) has done some wonderful things with patience and persistance! depends on how much time you want to devote to the craft, I too have a 10" and wouldn't mind doing some thing though the LPI cam that curtin has. Ill get around to it most likely this week.

The path that i will be looking at for astro photography will be to get a nice 80mm ED "guide scope" mounted on a EQ6 with a cannon 350/400D and something to do my actual imaging. But then i can swap between the 10" and the 80mm ed for different styles of photography without the hassel of changing all my equipment over or being stuck to one format.

That will be my learning pad from there i will understand better what i need.

Thats just my 2 bobs worth and ideas for what you might be able to do.

[tippsy25]

cheers for the replys.

ok, maybe i should continue this in another part of the forum but who wants to start another thread right.

so, i looked around and came across motor drives for dobs that claim to track and all that (eg. Dob Driver II) and they SOUND good...but im not sure about how they'll perform. Are they at all decent? like i say they sound good but im skeptical as to how they would perform. would they work on deep sky objects or just the solar system? i cant seem to find much info on the around, or anywhere in australia that sells them (i havent really searched extensivley).

any info regarding these things would be helpful at this stage.

cheers

[bojan]

Just be careful, dob will track (especially if it is bartelised... http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/BBAstr...ted_Telescopes) but the remaining problem for photography of DSO wil lbe field rotation (however, Bartelised dobson will take care of that too..)

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

well thats one track for you, though if your going photos. slap it on a GEM (German Equatorial mount) that way you don't have to be handy with the spanners to get it up and going.

If you have never really been into astronomy though i suggest you
A. go along to a astronomy club and see what goes into photography, it might just suprize you!
B. Talk to people and put your hands on the stuff first
C. start out with a simple scope that allows you to learn the sky, where things are, how to generally be a amature astronomer.!

[tippsy25]

bojan:
cheerw. and yea the one thing i did find out about these motors is field rotation can be a problem, but i found a few ways to get around it...

bmitchell82:
ill go and check the GEM out right away.
and i've always been interested in astronomy and although i never had a scope till recently i still have the basic knowledge as my fater took me to astronomy clubs a few times. The photography side i dont know nearly as much and maybe should go speak to people who know what they're doin.

And i've happy with the dob i've got because not being motorized and tracking or GOTO blah blah i've had to learn the night sky. i now love being able to look at the sky and name stars, nebulae and clusters. that aspect i do enjoy, but i would also like some photos of what im seeing.
anyways i'll continue "scope-ing" it out.
peace out

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi matt

To start with, just hold a digital camera up to the eyepiece and take a photo! That will generally only work with the moon or a bright planet.

It won't work for DSO's or anything faint as you need a long exposure.

For progressing after that, check out:
Astrophotography with a Dob

I put my 10" dob on an EQ platform after doing non-tracked photography for a while.