As a number of my imaging colleagues will attest, I am afflicted by a need to reorganize and alter the imaging setups in the Beevo Dome. My excuse is I am experimenting and looking to have the most efficient and diverse combination, affording access to several fields of view [FOV] without needing to change scopes; just move the power and data cables to switch from one FOV to another. It works for me and provides my buddies with repeated opportunities to give me a hard time.
My real objective is to maximize imaging time within whatever parameters I can create. It's not feasible for me to have a remote setup like the three amigos each sport in New Mexico, and I don't have open acreage and darker skies like my Hygiene friends; so I make do with my suburban location and enjoy my heated control cubby in cold weather. Besides, my observatory is literally 5 feet west of my garage so it's a snap to sneak into the house for tea and snacks.
Anyway, here are two views of the new arrangement. Frankly, it's difficult to get my phone camera far enough away to show the whole rig, but these show it pretty well. Briefly, here are the details:
- William Optics FLT 132 [f/7 reduced 0.8x to run at f/5.6]; ASI 533 MM Pro; MicroTouch focus motor; ZWO EFW with Astronomik 6nm narrowband filters and Astrodon E Series Gen II RGB filters
- Borg 107FL f/3.9 6 APO; Primalucelab Esatto focuser; ASI 2600 MM Pro; Starlight Xpress USB Filter Wheel with a mix of Baader and Chroma narrowband filters, and Astrodon E Series Gen II RGB filters.
- Dual Borg 55FL f/3.6 Petzval Astrographs; focus motors...ZWO EAF on B#1, Deep Sky Dad AF3 on B#2; each with an ASI 2600 MM Pro; ZWO EFW with Chroma 3nm narrowband filters and Astrodon E Series Gen II RGB filters on B#1, ZWO EFW with a mix of Baader and Chroma narrowband filters, and Astrodon E Series Gen II RGB filters on B#2.
- B#2 mounted on an ADM Aimer so I can align the FOVs of the two Borg 55s.
- William Optics RedCat f/4.9 Petzval Astrograph; ASI 290M Mini guide camera
I have employed dual imaging trains before to good advantage [WO Star 71 and RedCat astrographs, and dual 132s]. I keep threatening to add a second pier somewhere in my limited space outside the Dome so I can have the MyT setup with one collection of scopes and the MX+ in the Dome with another. That hasn't come to fruition yet, so this is the next best thing. Since I like the wider FOVs I elected to double up on the Borg 55s. When finances allow I may elect to add a second 107, but that would displace the 132...decisions, decisions. Going to enjoy this rig for now...and don't laugh Geezers!
...Stephen
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