2008

 A Total of 5 Cameras mounted ....
1 Modified Canon350 currently on the 80mm  will connect to either the C8 (Big Tube)
or the 80MM Williams Optic (Red Scope) Meade DSI Pro as guider with K3ccd or PHD Guiding (attached to the C8)
3 Wide field cameras Sac Minitron Video with 25mm canon CCTV lens
StellacamII with 75mm Fuji CCTV and Axis Network Cam with Canon 16mm CCTV lens

I use these Wide field cameras to verify that the dome's slot is not obstructing the imaging or Guide cameras
and for pointing to targets

These cameras are so sensitive that  I am able to see the milky way on my computer screen even
from ULTRA LIGHT POLLUTED home
(This is completely impossible with my naked eyes)

 To view other video capture from these cameras visit my Video Capture Page

 

2007

2006

Latest Setup

 Celestron GPS8
carbon fiber tube w/fastar compatibility and fastar lens
Losmandy 108mm guide rings
William Optics "Red" ZS80mm 10th anniversary model 2nd edition
SAC10 3.3mp Cooled CCD
Quickcam3000 Webcam w/moog adapter Luna/Planetary camera
Stellacam II guider and imager
SAC Minitron w f/2.8 12.5mm Finder wide field imager
Scopestuff Green Laser pointer and mount
Dewnot 80mm and 203mm straps and variable controller
Various Counterweight assemblies
Astrozap Flexible dewshield
Astrozap focusing aid hartmann mask cover
Milburn HD Wedge on Celestron Tripod (outdoor mount)
Celestron Stock tripod and Landing Pad (indoor mount)

I just grab this beast and gently slide on it onto the wedge for observe ring

as one can see, this could be problematic in the winter moving it inside and out so...

7x6x6 dome observatory...
.
Yup. Thanks A-marter Doug ..More on this shortly

2006
The Switch to Full Digital astronomy has occurred!
PHOTO SCOPE I

C8 OTA (fastar assembly)
William Optics Zenithstar 80 mm Semi APO
ASGT-CG5 GOTO Mount
Celestron C-5
Various focal length lens



PHOTO/VISUAL SCOPE II

CELESTRON Nexstar GPS8
C8 Carbon Fibre OTA
 (fastar compatible)
Milburn Wedge
Celstar Tripod (above scope)
William Optics Red Anniversary #069916
Zenithstar 80 mm Doublet APO
Celestron NS Tripod with Starazonia Landing Pad (alt.az)
This is used for Semi Visual / photographic scope
 

Cameras and Accessories
SAC10 48bit 3.3mp CCD
Waytec/Astrovid Stellacam-II
SAC Minitron BW Video Camera (Efinder/Guider)
Logitech Quick Cam 3000 Unmod LX
Logitech Quick Cam 3000 Modified LX
Celestron 500mm f/5.6 telephoto Lens
astronomics CCD HA filter
Baader IR/UV Cutoff filter
Celeston f/6.3 Reducer
2 SAC .5/.3 Reducer
cannon f/2.8 200mm
pentax f/2.0 50mm
pentax f/2.8 28mm
corsica 13.5mm f2.8 C-mount
Meade 2" SCT Motofocus w/JMI Controller
3x Green Laser Pointers
8" DewBuster
3" DewBuster
DewBuster Controller
7x50 polaris scope
Polaris Finder CG5 Mount
Celestron f/1.9 C8 Fastar Assembly
Celestron Raidal Guider
moog adapter SAC8/10>PentaxK
moog adapter SAC8/10>Canon FD
moog adapter Cmount >Canon FD
Scopestuff Camera Mount Kit
Celestron Camera Mount
ScopeStuff 90mm Rings
Losmandy 108mm Guider Rings
Losmandy DC8 Dovetail
Losmandy Piggyback for Weight Rail
Losmandy (Celestron) C8 Rail and Weight Assembly
2x Pentax K 35MM SLR Bodies
KD Dual CG5 Dovetail adapter
Various Cases and Trunks
Portable Observatory

Celestron Powertank
2 Automotive Power Tanks w/DC inverters

Computers and Software

Field Systems
Capture
Gateway M-650 Laptop w/17"
Widescreen DVD-R Field Imaging Laptop
 Firewire In 4x USB2.0 3x USB 1.0 Wireless 802.1G
Guiders
2X IBM A20 Pent II Laptops
 (auto guiders for each scope)
Video In / Wireless 802.1G
Linksys Wireless hub for field use so all devices networked and
Remote desktop used from Imaging laptop to control the show
(usually inside my warm truck..:)

Processing and Archive/Retrieval
Sony Dual Pent4
 3x250gig
1 DVD Dual Side Burner
1 DVD+/-R
2 gig ram

Capture / Stacking Software
Maxim/DL
K3CCDv2
K3CCDv3
Nebulosity
Registax

Processing Software
Photoshop CS2
Maxim/DL
Nebulosity
K3CCD
IMerge
 

GPS Viewing Mode

I remotely point the scope and watch on my 50" BigScreen Indoors,,,
Looking at M42 is AWESOME
notice remote control on tripod...
this remote control controls the Scope's nextremote
thru my Sony media station indoors and outdoors
 computer is attached to my Big Screen
I can punch in any deepsky objects like switching channels on the T.V.
 

This is what I use while awaiting the other setup above to take 200 sub frames...:)

Computers and Telescopes a Match Made in Heaven!
  The Above Scope in Photo Mode!
GPS Photo Mode

Previous setup with SAC8 and Black ZS80 semi

2002-2004
Push-to semi digital
Celestron Celstar
Deluxe Computerized
8" C-8 2032mm f/10
Advanced Astromaster DSC
Southern Skies Deepsky planetarium software
IBM stinkpad A20 Laptop
Celestron ST80 mm
Pentax1000
75-135 konica f/3.6-f5.9
Scopestuff Green Laser Pointer
Logitech 3000 webcam
kendrick Quick Focus
kendrick Flex dewshield
 

1987-2002
35mm Wide field and Prime focus Manual Guided
Celestron C4.5 on Polaris Mount
4.5 Newtonian Reflector  f/7.9
 RA Motor Drive
Meade 60mm Guide Scope
Homemade Oak Dovetail
Pentax K1000 35mm SLR
Vixen .965 Off Axis Guider
Pentax 50mm

Beaver Meadow Observatory
Buffalo Astronomical Society
12.5" Newtonian


 

1979-1986

Meade 60mm achromatic refractor Eq mounted

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