Re: [APML] Am I nuts...

["Bert Katzung" <katzung1@attbi.com>]

Hi Mark:
Not at all nuts to do deep sky stuff with your setup, it should be perfect
for many of the larger objects. For planets, you *are* going to have
problems because of their tiny size. Even with a 2000 mm focal length scope,
you will only get an image of Saturn or Jupiter a fraction of a millimeter
wide on the film at prime focus. You need to go to multiple Barlows or
eyepiece projection *plus* the longest focal length you can get for planets.
But with all the nebulas and galaxies out there (not to mention the moon),
there's plenty to do with short focal lengths and film.

Regarding alignment: it's all a matter of focal length: for your 50 mm lens
piggyback, a rough alignment with a polar alignment scope may be all you
need. With your 300 mm lens, you will probably start seeing significant
trailing with any reasonable deepsky exposure unless you do drift alignment.
And with a G-8, you will almost certainly have to guide --- manually or with
a guider --- during those long deep sky exposures.
Good luck....
Bert

Bert Katzung
katzung1@attbi.com
www.astronomy-images.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Bohrer" <lurchl@ix.netcom.com>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 5:05 PM
Subject: [APML] Am I nuts...


> ...to even be thinking of using regular film cameras for planetary and
> deep-sky objects with my Tak FSQ-106N/Losmandy GM-8?
>
> I'm going to use a Leica M6 TTL with 50mm F1 Noctilux or Nikon F5/D1H with
> 300mm F4 riding piggyback. When I've gotten that to work well, I'll be
> using a Nikon F2 to do some prime focus stuff with the scope. I've already
> taken the 'baby steps' of tripod-mounted moon shots
> http://www.kokophoto.com/Night_sky/Moon1underexp01.htm and Orion
> http://www.kokophoto.com/California/Orion_nite_sky.htm .
>
> Also, do most folks drift align, or do you use some other technique?
>
> Mark Bohrer
> www.kokophoto.com
> Pro mountain bike racing on the web
>
>
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