Hall's Harbour Observatory,   Hall's Harbour, NS

Equipment

30-May-2023 02:20 ADT 30-May-2023 05:20 UTC

Large DSO Imaging Setup

Telescope: Orion Astrograph
Newtonian
200mm x 800mm f/4
Mount: iOptron CEM60
Support: Plywood pier
Optics: Televue Paracorr 2
Imaging Camera: Atik 383L+
Filters: Astrodon LRGB
Astrodon 5nm Ha
Focuser: GSO focuser with Rigel DC motor
Guide Scope: KWIQ refractor
50mm x 162mm f/3.3
Guide Camera: QHY5

Small DSO Imaging Setup

Telescope: Celestron C-11 Schmidt-Cassegrain
280mm x 2800mm f/10
Mount: iOptron CEM60
Support: Plywood pier
Imaging Camera: Atik 383L+
Filters: Astrodon LRGB
Astrodon 5nm Ha
Focuser: Moonlite Crayford focuser with DC motor
Guide Scope: Celestron C-90
Maksutov-Cassegrain
90mm x 1000mm (f/7 with focal reducer)
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MC

Planetary Imaging Setup

Telescope: Celestron C-11 Schmidt-Cassegrain
280mm x 2800mm f/10
Mount: iOptron CEM60
Support: Plywood pier
Optics: Siebert 3x telecentric barlow
Antares 2x barlow
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI120MC
Focuser: Moonlite Crayford focuser with DC motor

Wide Field Imaging Setup

Telescope: Homemade Copyscope refractor
70mm x 230mm f/3.2
Mount: iOptron CEM60 (dome) or
HEQ5 pro (field)
Support: Plywood pier (CEM60), or
tripod (HEQ5)
Imaging Camera: Canon 350D, modified
Focuser: none!

Observatory Visual Setup

Telescope: Celestron C-11 Schmidt-Cassegrain
280mm x 2800mm f/10
Mount: iOptron CEM60
Support: Plywood pier
Optics: Antares 0.63 focal reducer
GSO 60 degree 42mm
Televue Panoptic 27mm
Celestron Plossl 25mm
Antares W70 15mm
unbranded Kellner 10mm
Antares W70 6mm
Siebert 3x telecentric barlow
Antares 2x barlow

Field Visual/Imaging Setup

Telescope: Celestron 8SE SCT OTA
200mm x 2000mm f/10
Mount: HEQ5 pro
Support: HEQ5 standard tripod
Imaging Camera: Canon 350D, modified
Optics: Antares 0.63 focal reducer
GSO 60 degree 42mm
Televue Panoptic 27mm
Antares W70 15mm
Celestron Plossl 25mm
Antares W70 15mm
No-name Kellner 10mm
Antares W70 6mm
Siebert 3x telecentric barlow
Antares 2x barlow

Grab & Go Visual Setup

Telescope: Celestron C-90
Maksutov-Cassegrain
90mm x 1000mm f/11
Mount: Celestron C-90 single-arm wedged fork
Support: Manfrotto tripod
Optics: Celestron Kellner 30mm
Celestron Kellner 18mm
Antares Plossl 12mm
Meade MA 9mm

Binoculars

Binoculars: Celestron 20x80
Support: Manfrotto ball head
Home-made L-bracket
Orion Paragon parallelogram with tripod

Observatory

Dome: Exploradome 8'
Control system: WalkerDome (home-made)
Shutters: DC motors.
Operate in home position only.
Self-sequencing via limit switches and relays.
Rotation: High-torque geared stepper motor.
2 kHz step rate gives 1 rotation in 65 seconds.
Controller: Arduino.
Custom wiring.
Rain protection: Hydreon RG-11 rain sensor.
Direct connection to Arduino for absolute
over-ride in the event of rain.
Wind protection: Passive hold-down brackets (4x).
Hand-installed hold-down turnbuckles (2x),
with integrated rotation prevention.