A few pics of my HyperStar-based AP rig - posted for discussions with friends/family/etc.

The core of my wide-field astrophotography setup is an 8" Celestron EdgeHD Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope (SCT) optical tube assembly (OTA) and a Starizona HyperStar V4 - this setup is optimized for taking very fast images (aka subs) of wide area (large) targets. In this configuration, my rig is not suited for taking subs of small Deep Sky Objects (DSO's), planets or galaxies (other than the huge M31 Andromeda Galaxy) - those objects are just too tiny for this setup.

The OTA sits atop a white SkyWatcher EQ6-R Pro German Equitorial Mount (GEM) which is secured to a tripod. A QHY Polemaster (PM) is attached to the front of the mount and connected via USB cable to a USB hub. The PM enables noObs like me to quickly and effectively align the right ascension axis of the mount with the northern celestial pole. More energetic astrophotographers can use the GEM's built-in polar alignment scope if they want to save a few bucks and/or brag about their 733t polar alignment skills.

A Celestron RACI finder scope and a laser pointer are used to help find/refine displayed targets after they are punched into the mount's hand controller. Between the RACI and laser is SkyWatcher Evoguide 50mm guide scope (the tube with white and green trim.) For guiding (aka keeping the imaging camera accurately pointed at a moving target) a red ZWO ASI174M Mini mono camera is attached to the end of the guide scope and connected to a USB hub that is in turn connected to a laptop. The laptop (not pictured) is used for control of the mount/OTA and to locate, capture and process images. A Celestron Focus Motor, which is connected to a USB hub velcroed to the side of the mount, is used to maintain focus on the targets using a laptop - it is also connected to a USB hub.

Dew heater straps on the ends of the beige OTA are connected to a Pegasus Power Box (PPB) - the blue box velcroed atop the OTA. The PPB provides power to the imaging camera that is attached to the HyperStar (HS). The HS is attached to the OTA in place of the SCT's typical secondary mirror. A dew shield is used to control dew and limit spurious light beams that may go into the business end of the OTA where the imaging camera and HS is attached. Between the HS and camera is a Starizona Filter Tray which holds 36mm or 2" filters, depending on the type of camera (One Shot Color - aka OSC or monochrome - aka Mono) camera and target (narrowband or broadband) to be imaged.

Generally speaking, mono cameras and narrowband filters are used to capture images of targets which are too dim to be seen clearly with the naked eye. OSC cameras, with or without broadband filters, can be used to image visible targets.

All the cabling (aka spaghetti) that connects the entire mess together are wrapped and secured so that vibrations don't blur the sensitive optics, lenses, camera's, etc.

A benefit of this type of SCT OTA - as long as you don't mind disaasembling everything and then putting it all back together again and again - is that this setup can be switched to narrow field targets (e.g galaxies, planets, etc.) by moving all the hardware to the aft end of the OTA.

To switch, the HS can be removed, the secondary mirror replaced, then the guide camera, filters and imaging camera are attached on the back of the OTA. Instead of the guidescope, the 174M is attached to an Off-Axis Guider (OAG) which is attached to a 0.7 focal reducer screwed on to the back of the OTA. The camera and filter tray are then attached to the OAG. I leave my focal reducer and OAG (the black hardware inside the Ziplock bag) to the back of my OTA.

The cost of switching configurations is that images take longer , or more subs are needed, to collect enought data to see (aka capture) very faint targets. The f/1.9 HyperStar is 25 times faster at collecting the same data as an f/10 narrowfield setup! The benefit of the f/10 setup is that you can image very small/tiny targets like galaxies, planets and small DSO's.

Another option for the non-HyperStar setup is that the setup can be used for visual astronomy if all the cameras and guiders are removed and replaced with Barlows, eyepieces, IR/Low-light adapters, binoviewers, etc.

The cost of my entire setup is "only" ~$8-9K - this setup would be considered a lower-middle level setup.

AP is not for those who are frugal, impatient or give up easy.

Clear Skies & God Bless!