Deep Space
Astrophotography Gear

Telescope Connection Breakdown - right to left

Recommended back focus to flattener for use with the GT81 telescope is 62.1mm

  1. Camera: threads 42mm female, width to sensor is 17.5mm

  2. Adapter: threads 42mm male to 54mm male, width 2mm

  3. Filter wheel: threads 54mm female on both sides, width 20mm

  4. Adapter: threads 54mm male to 48mm male, width 2mm

  5. Spacer: threads 48mm female on both sides, width 16mm

  6. Flattener: threads 48mm male to 63mm male, width is set to +5mm

  7. Telescope: threads 63mm female

Precision machined aluminum and steel. 40 years experience making EQ mounts. Unlike other companies, when Losmandy advertises a weight capacity that is the actual photographic weight capacity. (If you buy an EQ mount from another company expect the recommended photographic capacity to be half the advertised capacity.)

  • Weight Capacity: 22.7kg (50 lbs)

  • Power: 15v, 4amp

APO Triplet Refractor. Refractor telescopes are the most like camera lenses and so the easiest to use for those of us coming from a photography background, and have low comatic aberration. The APO Triplet part just means that your money is being spent on correcting chromatic aberrations.

  • Diameter: 81mm

  • Focal Length: 478mm

  • Aperture: f/5.9

  • Weight: 3.9kg

  • Weight as pictured, fully loaded: 7.4kg

A field flattener works to correct distortion and focus issues around the edges of the image. Don't even think about shooting full frame without one. A Reducer trades focal length for speed (no I will not argue the technicalities of this point with you).

  • Adjustable back focus

  • Reducing factor: 0.8X

  • Threads: M63 at telescope end and 48mm at camera

  • with GT81:

    • Focal Length: 382.4mm

    • Aperture: f/4.72

Not wanting to spend time fighting my photos I wanted a camera that was capable of usable one shot color images. Pretty much a cooled version of the mirrorless I already owned.

  • Sensor: Sony Back-illuminated 26mp APS-C Color CMOS.

  • Quality Specs: 3.76 pixel size, 50ke well depth, 14 stops dynamic range, 80% peak QE

  • Weight: 700g

  • Power Camera: 5v, 1.5amp (USB)

  • Power Cooler: 12v, 3amp

  • with GT81 & the FLAT6:

    • Focal Length: 573.6mm (35mm equivalent)

Welcome to dedicated astro cameras; they're stupid. The ASI2600 pretty much consists of a sensor, an air conditioner, and a dew heater, that's it, no brains. You can use a laptop and freely available software (linked to at ZWO site) or you can buy one of these dedicated astro computers and control the camera over WiFi with an app on your cellphone. This Pro version also includes USB and 5v power ports for accessories.

  • Weight: 243g

  • Power In: 12v, up to 6amp

  • Power Out: 4 x 12v, 3amp

A mono uncooled astro camera, with the Mini version designed primarily for guiding. It has a fast video rate so can be used as a planetary camera also.

  • Sensor: On Semi AR0130CS, 1.2mp 1/3" Mono CMOS

  • Quality Specs: 3.75 pixel size, 14.5 well depth, 11.2 dynamic range, 75% peak QE

  • Weight: 60g

  • Power: 5v, .15amp (USB)

She's a wee bonnie guiding scope with a really nice adjustable back focus system.

  • Diameter: 30mm

  • Focal Length: 120mm

  • Aperture: f/4

  • Weight: 250g

This will make you the envy of all the other astrophotographers. Electronically controlled focusing that can be fully automated to recheck focus based on time passed and/or temperature change.

  • Weight: 277g

  • Power: 5v, .5amp (USB)

It's a wheel that can hold up to 5 filters and change them electronically. Pretty self-descriptive isn't it. It's just that easy to use too.

  • Threads: 54mm on both sides (comes with one 54mm to 48mm adapter)

  • Weight: 500g

  • Power: 5v, .5amp (USB)

Power Distribution Unit = PDU. The ASIAIR has PDU capabilities built in but can't handle quite as much power as this, and this has a few more ports. Coming with an external temperature/humidity sensor it figures out the dew point at your telescope and adjusts the dew heaters as necessary using the 2 dedicated dew heater ports.

  • Weight: 250g

  • Power In: 12v, up to 12amp

  • Power Out: 4 x 12v 3amp, 1 adjustable voltage output 3amp, 2 x 12v 5amp PWM, 1 x 5v USB 3amp, 3 x 5v USB .5amp

    • Note: 12 amps maximum total output

Miscellaneous

You can never have enough stuff: