Equipment



The equipment I use for both observing and imaging is a Stellarvue AT1010 NightHawk refractor and a Celestron C8 SCT 8" . I use a CG-5 German Equatorial Mount with dual axes motors controlled with a auto/manual hand control , meaning it tracks good enough for for observing but if I want to image then I use the hand controller for guiding long exposers with the use of a Celestron Radial Guider . The reason for this is because my Celestron is an older non go-to scope mount . I use two different cameras for imaging which are a Pentax K1000 SLR with assorted lens and the new Canon Digital Rebel EOS 6.3mp and an Olympus OM1 SLR that I seldom ever use but is a great camera for backup use . I also own a Bushnell 4-1/2" Reflector on a equatorial mount with no motors , a pair of Celestron 15 x 70 binoculars and a good heavy duty camera tripod by Vanguard . The tripod is sturdy enough to handle all my camera equipment and also my AT1010 refractor which weights in around 7-lbs with my Canon Digital Rebel attached at Prime Focus of the AT1010 . Must say tho that balance is a little hard with the camera and scope combination . And least but not to mention all the Eye-Pieces , attachments , and filters for both the scope and Canon Rebel and imaging tools . Below are images of not only two of my scopes but also imaging tools and how they are attached to the scopes . Maybe seeing these type of images may help some see and learn what is meant by there respective imaging name and how they are attached to my scopes . Please understand that there is other ways , techniques and equipment used for imaging that I do not own or use that I maybe familiar with but not enough experience to mention , show or tell about . I apologize for the lack of knowledge but as I have previously mentioned this can be a very expensive hobby , just depending what your interest is and how much your willing to spend for neccessary equipment to satisfy your needs . One last thing I will mention is stay away from those local retailer "Trash Scopes" that claim they can show you the heavens with hugh amounts of seeing power . They do not have the ability in quality or optics to do what name brand well known Telescopes or Binoculars can deliver . Trash Scopes can cause disappoint and lost of interest that one may never get to truely experience observing the Heavens !!





Allow scopes to cool down equal to the outside temperture about one hour before observing . This allows good seeing with your optics .

Celestron C8 SCT on CG-5 GEQ mount , Vanguard camera tripod	Celestron C8 SCT on CG-5 German Equatorial Mount
PiggyBack mount with SLR camera & 50mm lens	Prime Focus with Camera / T-Ring / T-Adapter
EP projection with Tele-Extender / Eye-Piece (not seen) / Visual back	Prime Focus with Camera / T-Ring / Guider / Focal Reducer f/6.3
Illuminated Reticle Eye-Piece shown with Celestron Radial Guider	Camera with 2" Camera Adapter inserted into a 2" Celestron diagonal
Camera PiggyBack with a Takumar SMC 300mm Tele-Photo lens	Notice the green color coatings on a Stellarvue AT1010 NightHawk
Stellarvue AT1010 NightHawk & 30mm 2" EP / Celestron 2" diagonal	2" Super Wide View Eye-Pieces are a big help to eye glass wearers
Stellarvue 2-inch Super Wide View 30mm Eye-Piece	Prime Focus with Stellarvues 2" Camera Adapter & 2" Extender

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