Re: [APML] guidescope / setup question

["mike and dianna" <galaxy@ncweb.com>]

Hi Aike,

I have a similar setup. I use a homemade 8" F3.5 newtonian on a Losmandy
G-11. I also use a Celestron 4" F10 refractor for a guidescope mounted in
Losmandy rings and do the same that Herm does. I leave it mounted in the
rings all the time and just slide it on and off a dovetail plate mounted on
my OTA rings.
I have to say I love the setup and have not encountered any major problems.
My guidescope is longer than the 8"OTA and its not a problem. at least not
that I know of <g>. Just make sure you keep your guidescope pointed as
closely to your target as possible. The losmandy 3-point rings make it easy
to find a guidestar.
Matt also brings up a good point. I use a flip mirror with my autoguider for
centering a guidestar on the chip. You might want to look into it. With this
setup, finding and centering a guidestar is a breeze.
A pic of my setup can be seen here
http://www.ncweb.com/~galaxy/photoscope/my8.htm

Sincerely and good luck,
Mike  Leitch
galaxy@ncweb.com
http://www.ncweb.com/~galaxy/home/astropho.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aike M. Voelker" <AikeM.Voelker-Jamin@t-online.de>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2001 3:51 PM
Subject: [APML] guidescope / setup question


>
> Hi APML,
>
> after selling my LX 200, I am working on my new sepup for
astrophotography.
>
> My first decision regarding the primary scope was to go for a fast
Newtonian, a
> Vixen R200SS, it's a 8" f/4 (800mm focal lenght) telescope.
>
> The second decision to be made was (is) the guidescope. I've recently
purchased
> a Vixen 80mm / 1200mm refractor, which I thought would be a perfect
guidescope!
> I'm planing to get myself a EQ6 (expected delivery by the end of October),
which
> is a mount that carries up about to 35 pounds and is said to be as
dependable as
> the G11, but for a much more moderate price...
>
> But....
>
> After talking to some of my astronomical dealers, I've discovered that
they see
> a big problem in aligning the guidescope to the photographic scope. (The
> guidescope would be about 25" londer than my main instrument).
>
> Furthermore, I've received the advise that I should go for a smaller
guidescope
> such as the Meade ETX in order to prevent flexure, alignement problems of
the
> complete system.
>
> Here are my questions:
>
> - is anyone operating with a system comperable to mine?
> - if so, what are the expieriences with it?
> - how about the alignement of the two scopes when out in the field (I
don't have
>   a permanent setup, so I need to setup the whole stuff every single night
I
>   am photographing!)?
> - what kind of guidescope "brackets" are useful to ensure proper accuracy?
> - is the ETX a useful guidescope (mirror shift?)??? - I have read bad
things
>  about using a ETX as guidescope.....
>
> Any hints will be highly appreciated ,as I can't wait to get out in the
field
> again.
>
> I definatly don't want to loose "Clear Sky" time (very rare in the last
while
> anyways....), with a system that won't work at all.
>
> Thanks for any input,
>
> Clear Skies,
>
> Aike
> http://www.astrophotography.de
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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