Image of the day

Captured by
adrian oradean

WF Cone in Ha OIII

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Steven Jindra

October 20, 2004 02:39 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Is there a Mirror Lock for 9.25"SCT OTA?

Posted By Steven Jindra
I have a Celestron 9.25" SCT OTA as part of the astroimaging setup I am putting together. I have an external microfocuser for fine focusing. I have the SXV-9H camera with separate guide scope and autoguider camera. Usually, I will be taking a series of images from 2 to 5 minutes long to be stacked in MaximDL.

My question: is there a means of locking the main mirror on this OTA to eliminate problems with mirror image shift? If not, are there some tricks to minimize the problem? From your experience, is there a problem with this while taking 5 minute images?

Thanks
Steven Jindra

November 2, 2004 11:50 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

C8 OTA, Fastar, and SXV-H9 - A Good Combination?

Posted By Steven Jindra
I just bought a C-8 OTA that is Fastar compatible. I have the SXV-H9 camera and am considering purchasing the Fastar kit. Does anyone have any comments or experience with this combination?

Is the Fastar worth it or should I just stick with the regular 6.3 and 3.3 SCT focal reducers?

Thanks for any input.
Steven Jindra

November 6, 2004 08:15 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

M33-Pinwheel Galaxy & HorseHead

Posted By Steven Jindra
I've been assembling and learning equipment (with helpful comments from others in this forum) and finally have a few images I'm not too embarrassed to post from last night. These were taken from my heavily light polluted back yard (next to Houston).

Equipment:
*Camera is a SXV-H9.
*Scope Tak FS78 with focal reducer to F6 (500mm).
*SXV autoGuider on ST-80 guide scope.
*CI-700 Mount.
*LPS-P2 Light Pollution Filter. (Astronomik HA filter is ordered but not delivered yet).
*Software is MaximDL V4

M33 (Pinwheel Galaxie) is best 18 of 22 - 200 second images, Sigma combined, auto background flattened, cropped, saved as 50% quality Jpeg.

IC434 (Horsehead) is best 14 of 22 - 200 second images, Sigma combined, auto flattening of background, .8 Gamma stretch, saved as 50% quality Jpeg.

Any tips on additional or alternate processing is appreciated. Also, what is the best method to repair a dust donut (on left side of IC434)?

Thanks
Steven Jindra

February 27, 2005 08:37 PM Forum: Takahashi

FS78 Red - Work for an FS102? Is There an Adaptor?

Posted By Steven Jindra
I have an FS78 with a reducer/flattener (part #TFP6200) that I have
been using for imaging with the SXV-H9 CCD camera. I recently
purchased an FS102. I would like to use my existing reducer on the
FS102. They are the same focal ratio (F8) and not too far off in focal lengths (630mm to 820mm). Is there an adaptor from the 2.7" to 2" focuser threads to be found that would allow me to install the FS78 Reducer on the FS102. If so, is there a reason, optically, why this would not work well, knowing my CCD chip size is relatively small.

Any comments are appreciated.
Thanks
Steven Jindra

March 2, 2005 05:00 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Advantages to Autoguiding with APO over Achro?

Posted By Steven Jindra
I have a CI700 Mount with a Celestron 9.25" OTA (used at F6.3), Tak FS78 OTA (used at F8.1 or F6), and currently an 80mm ST (400mm focal length F5 achro) that I use as a guide scope for my SXV-H9. I use MaximDL V4 as my aquisition/guiding software. I also have a Borg 76ED (500mm focal length F6.6) for quick looks.

My question: Would there be a significant advantage to guiding with the 76ED. Is there a significant advantage to guiding with an ED/APO as opposed to an achromat (less bloated guide stars, better snap to focus, etc.) or would this be a waste of good glass? Of course, going to the 80 ST as my visual quick look scope will definitely be a downgrade.

Thanks for your thoughts.
Steven Jindra

March 3, 2005 05:51 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Borg 76ED Verses Tak FS78 - For Imaging - Which?

Posted By Steven Jindra
I am planning on installing either a Borg 76ED or an FS78 to serve as a guidescope and for wider field imaging in combination with an FS102.

This will be with the SXV-H9 imager and guider. My mount is a CI700.

I like the idea of the shorter focal length and wider field of the 76ED (500mm)(425mm with a .85 FR I have) compared with the FS78 (630mm)(500mm with the Tak FS78 FR).

My question: What is the imaging quality capability of the 76ED
compared to the FS78? Are they close or is the Tak a full step better?

Thanks again for your thoughts on this.

Steven Jindra

March 7, 2005 03:57 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

To Tap "T" Threads - Tap or Machine Shop?

Posted By Steven Jindra
I have a Focal Reducer for a Takahashi FS78. I am trying to match it up to an FS102 (for CCD imaging). I cannot find an adaptor to get from the female threads of the 2.7" focuser of the FS102 to the male threads of the 2" focuser of the FS78. Borg only has the 2" female threads.

First, if anyone knows of an adaptor to get from SCT, 2" eyepiece holder, or "T" threads to the Takahashi FS78 focuser male threads, I'd love to hear bout it.

I do have the nice threaded aluminum cap that comes with the FS78 reducer. It could be drilled out and tapped to female "T" threads and I can make it work.

So now my question: Is there a tap (and hole saw) that can be purchased with "T" threads to tap female threads into this cap or is this a function of a machine shop? If so, where can it be purchased? If a machine shop, then is there a good one for this at reasonable prices?

Thanks
Steven Jindra

March 21, 2005 02:59 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

For H-Alpha Imaging - APO or Achro?

Posted By Steven Jindra
I've wondered on several occasions, for imaging with a CCD camera and an H-Alpha filter either Nebula or Solar is there a significant advantage to using an APO as opposed to a quality achromat since the light band to be focused is so narrow anyway?

Thanks for your oppinions.

Steven Jindra

May 6, 2005 05:59 PM Forum: Takahashi

Dimensions of EM200 Tripod Legs?

Posted By Steven Jindra
I recently purchased an FS128. I have a CI-700 mount for imaging and also an alt-az mount that was designed and made by a machinist in central Texas after the TV Gibralter, only heavier duty, . I plan to upgrade the legs to better support the weight of the 5" refractor for visual. This summer, between the misquitoes and beads of sweat, I plan to get some very nice views of Jupiter, the Moon and brighter DSO's.

My question is:
What are the dimensions of the legs on an EM200 mount (the one piece hardwood legs)? Do you know if the wood is Mahogany? I plan to paint the alt-az mount to match the Tak colors as close as possible.

Thanks for any info.
Steven Jindra

May 20, 2005 09:05 PM Forum: Takahashi

Do You Know a Match for Tak White Paint?

Posted By Steven Jindra
For actual touch up of Tak equipment I know that LSSTNR carries small
bottles of Tak touch up paint in the Tak green and white.

Earlier on this site the KRYLON #2335 Honeydew Ambrosia paint was identified
as a good substitute for the Tak green. I bought 2 cans and it is a
great match for mounts and brackets.

Does anyone know of a readily available paint (Krylon of other) that
would serve as a reasonable match for for the Tak white? I am not
looking to touch up an OTA, but just to paint a finder scope and a few
other items to match.

Thanks
Steven Jindra


Funding Member

Telescopes, Astronomy, Binoculars

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search