Equipment Used

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All astro-images on this site were taken with the following equipment...

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Telescope #1

• Celestron model 8SE (20 cm SCT, F10 optics with a GoTo drive on an Alt/Az mount).

• Light shield over the objective.

• RACI finderscope (9x50 right-angle finder with lighted cross-hairs).

• Bahtinov mask.

• Five-position filter wheel.

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Telescope #2

• Orion ST-80, (80mm/F5 refractor).

• Bahtinov mask.

 

Camera #1

• ZWO ASI-178mm monochrome camera.

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Camera #2

• Canon 80D DSLR.

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Software

• Fire Capture (camera control and image downloading, free).

• AutoStakkert or RegiStax or Deep Sky Stacker (image stacking​, all free).

• Zoner Photo Studio (image processing similar to Photo-Shop, purchased).

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Imaging Filters

• Deep Red Filter - Improves atmospheric seeing and image contrast when imaging planets, Sun and Moon.

• 1000 Oaks LP-1 Light-Pollution Filter - For dual-band Ha and OIII emissions of emission nebulas.  It also moderately reduces light-pollution.

• ZWO IR/UV Cutoff Filter - To remove bloated stars due to focusing issues at IR & UV frequencies.

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Misc Equipment

• 0.5x Focal Reducer - increases field-of-view 4x, reduces exposure times by 75% (turns my F10 'scope into an F5).  For full effect its location within the imaging train is important.

• Laptop - for camera control and image download.

• Shelf - at a convenient stand-up height for laptop use.

• Table - for those needed accessories.

• Large Plastic Tub - for convenient outside equipment storage.