new scope arrived

Well, my experimental astrograph arrived. I placed it on the AP1200 GTO yesterday and I’m now waiting for a clear night in which to test it. I sure hope that it does what I want!! I’m sure that it will be great with CCD chips sizes up to ST-10, but I want to use it with my STL11k – will it fully illuminate the chip? It does on paper; the calculations show great promise. Frankly I’m a bit nervous! Anyway, attached are some images of the scope in its current arrangement. The STL11k is attached to the MASSIVE 3” aperture Clement focuser – I have yet to place the Robofocus on the focuser. The WO Megrez 80 triplet APO is the guidescope; a ST-402E is the guide camera. I’ve never mounted a Newtonian-type scope; the balancing was interesting. I had to make an offset bracket for counter weights near the front of the scope to offset the STL11k and focuser. The cable management was interesting as well.

Specs:

Mak Newt 10” f/4 aspherical astrograph
Fully baffled, including dewshield
31% central obstruction
Coatings specialized for CCD imaging
Custom 3” aperture Clement focuser with ultra fine movement


What do you think? Will it work with the STL11K?


Best,

Tom

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Nice Tom, What is make of OTA? I haven't heard of 10" f4 Mak.

Kevin

Beautiful setup Tom!
Waiting anxiously for your report & photos...

It looks great Tom, but I'd bet that it won't beat your AP155.

Very nice Tom! I hope its everything you are looking for - I enjoy your images are as they are, can't imagine how they could get much better. I'm guessing you'll find a way though.

All the best!

Hi Tom,

Have you taken any pictures with your new scope yet?

As I know, traditional (spherical) Mak-Newt has coma. Although the coma is less than that of Newtonian, it still limits the performance of Mak-Newt for prime-focus photography, especially at F4. I'm very interested to know how your aspherical Mak-Newt performs.

Wei-Hao