Re: [APML] Getting started for 1000$

["William R. Mattil" <wrmattil@ix.netcom.com>]

Patrick Huber wrote:

>
> The plan I have figured out looks like that:
> I take the Meade LXD75 SN-6" with UHTC which comes with the LPI
> for something like 1000$ and ad an off-axis guider like the
> taurus tracker.

Patrick,

Please don't take this as trying to discourage you from doing this. But 
however well intended you might be the Meade SN6 (or 8 or 10) will 
conspire against you. There is *not* enough "in-focus" available  to 
actually focus the instrument with an off-axis guider. Even one which 
excels at not using much addional focus. The Taurus uses even more. Now 
with that said, this isn't a huge problem but once again Meade has 
complicated things because the tube must be shortened in order to move 
the main mirror forward. This isn't trivial at least for me since I 
don't have a machine shop :( But you *can* add a low profile focuser and 
that will accomplish the same thing. But its an extra expense, albeit a 
reasonable one. The advantage of the 6inch is that it is f/5 and 
therefore will suffer very little from coma. But ...... always one of 
these isn't there ? ... The mirror clips will introduce diffraction 
spikes so this will have to be addressed.

> Then I can use the LPI and my laptop to guide the
> telescope. I know the LXD75 is not a photo mount, but with my
> budget I really doubt that a Vixen GP or something similar would
> be affordable. I've seen some very decent pictures taken on this
> mount with heavier OTAs, so I guess it anyhow takes me a long
> time to be really limited by the mount. Once that happens I still
> can consider an upgrade and the SN-6" is supposed to be a decent
> optic.
>
> What do you think, am I nuts or can I get along with this?
>
You are not nuts. The SN6 can produce nice images. Just be aware that 
there might be some minor issues that may need to be addressed.


Best Regards


Bill

-- 

William R. Mattil	:	http://www.celestial-images.com


_______________________________________________
Astro-Photo mailing list
Astro-Photo@seds.org
http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/astro-photo