• PLANEWAVE CDK 12,5" f/8 TELESCOPE
 A Corrected Dall-Kirkham scope with a long focal and a moderated aperture. A suitable scope for galaxies. Specifications here.
   
  • ASTROPHYSICS RICCARDI-HONDERS 12" f/3,7 ASTROGRAPH
A very fast and fine astrograph from Astrophysics. This terrific scope is used to catch the faintest nebulae through narrowband filters. Specifications here.
   
  • TAKAHASHI FSQ 106 ED REFRACTOR - f : 530 f/d 5
  

Mounting the FSQ106 ED refractor on the AP need a long dovetail plate to adjust the balance along the dec axis.

Due to the weigh of the OTA (7,5 kg) and the CCD camera (2 kg), it is necessary to add a counterweight (3kg) on the top of the dovetail.

The OTA is firmly fixed on the plate by two mounting rings from Socal Astro.
   

Note a special device for mounting the STL camera at the back of the FSQ.

The camera is heavy and not very handly. Thus, to avoid damaging the threated adapters during screwing operations, i design a system with two parts. One with a large inner diameter on the STL side and another one with an inverted cone screwed into the last Takahashi adapter (n°19). Three screws firmly fixed the system.
   
  • IMAGING TRAIN
 

A close-up view of my imaging train on the Planewave CDK 12,5".

From left to right : the STL camera, the AOL, the SBIG remote guiding head set on a homemade OAG, the takahashi CAA rotator and the Hedrick focuser.

The CAA is suitable for a precise framing and the research of a bright guiding star according to the angle provided by The Sky6 software.

The total weight of the imaging train wo focuser is 4,3 kg.
   
  • ASTROPHYSICS AP 1600 GTO EQUATORIAL GERMAN MOUNT
 

An excellent mount is needed for astrophotography to support without problems a heavy scope and all the accessories.

The Astrophysics AP1600 GTO is suitable for a heavy scope as the Riccardi Honders. The tracking performance is excellent.

The periodic error of my mount is very smooth and about 4,5" pic to pic.

The total weight of the AP1600 without counterweights is about 53 kg. The mount could be separate in two components for hassle-free field setup.

My AP1600 fit on the excellent ATS 10x36 pier.
   
  • ADVANCE TELESCOPE SYSTEM 10x36 PIER
  
  • SBIG STL CAMERAS
  
  • HaLRGB 2" ASTRODON and BAADER FILTERS
  

 
   
Old equipment solded
 
 

Celestron C14

The original tube of my C14 received many improvements :

- a carbon fiber tube,

- two fans for cooling down,

- an internal black flocking,

- a mirror locking device..

More details here

Rotating the camera is needed to search a suitable guiding star for example.

With a large and heavy camera like the STL, these operation should be delicate without disturbing the mount operation.

To avoid this, i design a special adapter based on a rotating collar from Takahashi (the one used with the TOA refractors). One side there is a special adapter with the STL and on the other side a 3" adapter to insert the system into my JMI NGF-Xtc focuser.

Choosing a guide star and performing the framing should be done now effortless and secured with this very smooth rotating device.

The imaging train is composed of the following elements, in order from the C14 : the JMI focuser, a Takahashi rotating collar, an AOL device and the camera. A f/6,3 focal reducer can be inserted in the JMI 3" focuser for faster imaging.

The backfocus lenght is about 209 mm.

As a result, the focal lenghts are :

Prime focus : F=4,2 m f/d 11,8

With the reducer : F=2,58 m f/d 7,3