entry level CCD

I'm looking to 'graduate' from my webcam to a CCD. I won a Meade DSI at the GSV2005 star party, and thought that would be a great step up, but it won't work on my Mac! Particulars are below. Any advice (even wait until you have more money!) is welcome. Research so far tells me that SBIG cameras work with Equinox, and that Starlight Instruments work with iCCD on Macs. The thing I really don't understand is what pixel and chip sizes work well with what scope focal lengths, etc., so I can't figure out which ones mate to my scope well.

Budget - $500-$1000 (counting the $250 I can get for the DSI)
Equipment - NexStar11GPS (2800mm/f10), Apple iBook 933MHz, Equinox
Targets - galaxies, nebulae, clusters

Thanks,

Shawn Filbey

You have the DSI, consider spending a few bucks to get a used Windows Laptop, try www.craigslist.org Probably get something that will do the job for $150 or so.

I am one of those who thinks it's smart not to use the good computer for imaging, too many hazards. It's dark, there's cables running all over the place, and half the time your night vision is gone from staring at the screen, Accidentally snag a cable and the laptop is on the ground and shattered...

Just some thoughts...

Jon

Hi Shawn,

You can get some good information to help you work out what pixel size will make you scope best at the "CCD University".

http://www.ccd.com/ccdu.html

Also, in the past I have used SBIG CCD's with a mac.

Have you checked out their website?

http://www.sbig.com/

Regards,

Maurice