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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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! |
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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 |
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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 |
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Grab & Go Visual Setup |
Telescope: | Celestron C-90
Maksutov-Cassegrain
90mm x 1000mm f/11 |
Mount: | Celestron C-90 single-arm wedged fork |
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Support: | Manfrotto tripod |
Optics: | Celestron Kellner 30mm
Celestron Kellner 18mm
Antares Plossl 12mm
Meade MA 9mm |
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Binoculars |
Binoculars: | Celestron 20x80 |
Support: | Manfrotto ball head
Home-made L-bracket
Orion Paragon parallelogram with tripod |
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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. |
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