From the beginning of my AP hobby I had a dream to have 8-10" Newton astrograph. This dream became true at the beginning of this year when I ordered ONTC 8" F/4 scope. Due to coronavirus and other related delays scope was delivered at the beginning of summer and since than it awaited in the box when I have a free time.
Only at the end of August I was able to install it at my remote observatory site. It replaced widefield setup based on Jupiter 37 lens.
This scope planned to be installed at remote observatory, thus it's equipped with
- thick carbon fiber tube to avoid flexure;
- rigid cell of primary and secondary mirror to keep collimation;
- 2.5" motorized Moonlite focuser to avoid flexure in focuser unit;
- remotely controller cap to minimize dust and spiders invasion
See video how it works -
youtu.be/7gXEcNOkZpY- controlled heating of primary and secondary mirrors;
- controller fans at primary mirror to facilitate temperature stabilization;
Optics is from stock, Chinese made newtons, but rigid mechanics does is't work - scope looks solid.
QHY22 with 9x1.25" Atik EFW2 is used for imaging on this scope. Paracorr 2 intended to correct newtonian coma.
FOr guiding combination of OAG and mono Lodestar autoguider is used.
On tube there are two DIY controllers - focuser controller and "misc" controller to control heating, fans and servo cap.
As results this setup has a 46’x37′ FOV with 1"/pixel scale what is equal to 926 mm FL.
SGP is used for session automation.
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