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Re: [ATM] Can one build a Newtonian stiff enough to use a Guide Scope?



Hi Walter, have you considered a self guiding SBIG camera ?

Jean Guy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Walter Belhaven" <wbelhaven@yahoo.com>
To: <atm@atmlist.net>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 8:41 PM
Subject: [ATM] Can one build a Newtonian stiff enough to use a Guide Scope?


> Greetings,
> 
> I'm considering building a Newtonian for imaging and have a fundamental
> question before I proceed.  Is there a consensus of the folks on this
> list as to whether a 9" f/4.5 Newtonian (give or take an inch or a few
> tenths of an f/ratio) CAN be built rigidly enough to allow 30min
> exposures with a Guide Scope; i.e., with sub-pixel differential flexure
> at fl=1200mm or so?  If it can be done, would it require materials that
> are prohibitively expensive (or heavy), making it impractical to carry
> such a beast with a modest GEM?  In other words, is one all but forced
> to use an Off-Axis Guider with a Newtonian, or can a Newtonian be built
> stiff enough to use Guide Scopes?
> 
> I've done lots of imaging with a very cheap 8" Celestron Newtonian.  It
> has a woefully undersized secondary for imaging; primary retaining
> clips that create ugly diffraction artifacts; and it flexes like a
> Romanian Gymnast.  Seems to me that there are some simple solutions to
> two of these problems -- a "right-sized" secondary, and perhaps the
> conical mirror sans retaining cilps to name a few -- but my query here
> is really whether I can "solve" the flexure problem(s) (and use a Guide
> Scope) or whether I shouldn't even bother trying (and use an OAG).  To
> this end, does anyone have a design for a super-rigid 9" f/4.5 that
> they'd be willing to share, especially in regard to secondary sizing,
> materials, focuser placement, etc., etc.?
> 
> Thanks,
> Walter Belhaven
> 
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