Trull
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This is my ATM light machine, sporting a 222mm f/7.3 mirror from Norman at Oldham Optical and a spring counterbalance system it gives me great pleasure to look at the sky. There's no wind area so its pretty stable in use, and the truss arm (now arms) is kept in place with a quick release mechanism for easy transport in the car. For the bearings they are etched PTFE onto aluminium or PTFE gliders onto smoothed wood. -
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359 or 360 teeth.. just how do you count them
Trull commented on rfdesigner's blog entry in Telescope Project
Its hard to count teeth, I suggest using a sharpie marker to tick every tenth. Works for me anyway. -
Chilly conditions (-11decC) at Aberdeen Astronomical Society's Dark Sky Site -
The International Space Station flying at an altitude of 409km, whilst 785km away from me, passed in-front of the moon. It took 0.63seconds, and I used the burst shutter mode (0.01sec 400iso RAW) on a Canon 20D at prime focus connected to my Vixen ED103swt refractor astride a Vixen GP-DX mount tracking the moon. -
I polar align the GP-DX using the inbuilt scope, its accurate enough and is very quick to complete. Particularly if I use a compass to find north. I'm happy taking 2 minute subs, at ISO1600. Have not noticed any improvement on mirror lockup, so don't bother anymore. Always remember to take darks - about 80 is plenty, and bias frame, although no light frame. Try to capture about 100-120 sub frames which is long enough!
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This is what I have and how I use it GP-DX with SS2K-PC connected by RS232 to a Lindy USB converter 42856, onto a 6-way Belkin USB hub then to a 5m USB extension cable. Autoguided via Shoestring Astronomy's adaptor connected to USB hub. I use an off-axis guider with a Imaging Source DFK21AS cam connected to a FW extension cable Canon EOS-350D is connected for pictures/control via USB, and GPUSB for long exposures from Shoestring astronomy. Power comes from a 12V adaptor or internal battery. Dew control keeps the optics clear. All above is connected via USB/FW to my Apple PowerBook G4 and I capture using Nebulosity and guide using PHD.
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KH images before and after dark
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The Art of Stepper motors in an uncaring society...discuss
Trull commented on ncjunk's blog entry in Blog 14473
...needless to say I bought the stepper control chip. Not that that helped with my drive mechanism, but at least I can stall my stepper with the best of them!
