Returning to hobby, information on CCD appreciated

Hello CCD Forum: I am returning to the astronomy hobby after an absence of many years. Back in the 70-80s I enjoyed astrophotography using my Pentax piggybacked on my 8" Cave Astrola Cassigrain. (I wish I still had it.) Can I set up a CCD system using 50mm to 200mm telephoto lenses and return to the fun? If so, can anyone point out some references directed to this end of CCD rather than the usual "through the scope" literature I have been reading?

I am thinking of my 90mm refractor (x-Cave guide scope) as a guide scope and obtaining a Great Polaris mount. CCD seems well suited to my needs as I will be operating from the back yard in moderate light pollution. As I understand CCD, I can get around many of the light pollution problems I encountered using film.

Many thanks for any advice!

Ed Wiley

You will have a little catching up to do. An excellent place to start would be Ron Wodaski's book, "The New CCD Astronomy" available from numerous sources, including ATWB:

http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=&pid=3997&m=87

As for using your Pentax lenses, you will need an adapter and one of the best known can be found here:

http://members.rogers.com/bradydjohnson/widefield.htm

The Brady/Johnson adapters work with several of the SBIG CCD cameras.

A simple example of the results can be seen here in my first attempt at using the adapter, my Olympus M-1n and one of my Zuiko lenses (see attached image). I have pointed out the Swan nebula in the FOV.

-Paul S. Walsh

Attached Image: