Fastar and Hyperstar...

[Keiran]

Just wondering how many people have it, and use it?

I dont remember many images being posted using it?

Keiran

[MjrTom]

I heard colimating at f/2 is quite tricky to say the least. Would love to hear from anyone that has imaged using this setup.

[Keiran]

That could be quite a put off then

[Ant]

Have a word with SteveL.

He imaged with the hyperstar and I whilst he did get some good results Collimation is a major issue and needs to be spot on.

Cheers

Ant

[Keiran]

Cheers ant

[Demonperformer]

Steve posted some info here: http://stargazerslounge.com/equipment-discussions-help-cameras/128954-hyperstar-numbers.html

[angusb1]

I think focusing is pretty tricky too at F2.

[Keiran]

Thanks for that John, it made for good reading... so when it is working its great, but the rest of the time its a pain, and the NB and LP filters dont function properly.

Abit of the subject, but will we see you at Turf hill soon its been a long time

[Merlin66]

The CPC 11 OTA I recently got (Thanks Sue!) is Fastar capable...

I'm thinking of rigging up an optical fibre link to push the f2 beam into a fast - like really fast, spectroscope....now that would be interesting.....

[Helen]

I've got both. The Fastar came with the scope when I bought it and I had a bit of fun with it with the watec. A couple of years ago I decided to upgrade to hyperstar and a large chip camera. But due to other problems its only over the last few months that I've actually started trying to use it. I've had mega collimation/flat field problems though, compounded by a loose secondary holder. I need to get the whole system tightened up and then give it another go. But the amount of nebula that the system collects in a short time is amazing!

Helen

[Keiran]

Thanks for the info all i can see with pros come with cons... I was thinking of buying a c9.25 in a year or so and using the fastar, but im still not sure if i will get a SC or a refractor

[shaunster]

You also need one of those fastar compatible cameras dont you? One of the long thin ones

[x6gas]

I'm not sure I understand this fastar business...

OK, so you get a megafast astrograph but: you presumably can't use filter wheels as it would be too much of an obstruction, it's clearly very tricky to colimate, and it's a swine to focus too (and can't use a focus mask).

Also, presumably the cables will produce a diffraction spike which won't look great, surely?

Combine with the cost and it's looking a bit unrealistic for me.