Jump to content

Auto guiding with spc900


Recommended Posts

Hi All,

If you use a spc900 as a guide cam on a st80 (other guide scopes are available) do you use it with the lens out and nose piece attached or do you use it afocally.

Also the Skywatcher Startravel ST80 as an OTA comes with guide rings, so what do I need to get this to attach to my old style Black EQ3-2.

Kev.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To be honest I think attaching anything more than the main scope is going to overload the EQ3-2 which is only just enough to handle the 150P. My first scope was exactly the same set up as yours.

The mount and tripod already vibrate a lot - and you won't be able to guide a dual axis motor without considerable electronic modification to add an ST4 port anyway.

Have a go at imaging planets with a webcam and RA drive by all means - but if you intend to snap dso's I would sell the mount and motors and get an EQ5 or CG5 goto mount. This will open up a lot of "elementary imaging" and guiding options for you. :blob10:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Having just spent some time testing this concept, I've come to the conclusion that unless the SPC is modified then there is no point in using that as a guide camera. It's juts not sensitive enough IMO

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can use an unmodded webcam for guiding with an ST80 (I did for a couple of years) but finding a suitable guide star can be tricky, so you need to be able to adjust the guidescope a bit by having it in guide rings. I found that I could capture stars down to about mag 6 with the unmodded webcam, so there was ususally a suitable star somewhere nearby.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kev,

have a look in the DIY section for stan26's guided EQ3-2 setup. He's not using a 150, but it might give you some ideas. I have to admit that I'd not be incredibly hopeful about guiding a 150 on an EQ3-2 though.

James

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Apparently the dual axis mod isnt that difficult, I intend to try this, I do however need to fine tune the EQ3-2 as in the posts in the diy section, some people have had some success in doing so, But as far as the St80 is concerned it will stay with me for a long time no matter what mount I got and fully intend to upgrade to a NEQ6 and larger aperture scope as soon as possible, now imminent due to a couple of insurances maturing.

Kev.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Both stan26's and my own DEC direct drive mod threads show the brackets we made, afair. It's a bit of a "make it up as you go along" type of thing, depending on what you have available.

James

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.