From: Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@me.com>

Date: January 30, 2011 5:08:53 PM MST

To: astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Flea 2 & Hyperstar on an Edge HD 8"


Hi again Milton,

What you were saying about C-mount cameras being mountable on Hyperstar lenses & the possibilty of using reducers has sent me back to my original idea of upgrading (maybe in 4-5 months) to an Edge HD 8''.

How feasible is it to achieve good images of DSO`s with my colour Flea 2 (which is the 7.4 micron one)?

Some months ago I tried a 30 second unguided exposure with the Flea 2 but were guided imaging to become a real option with the CGEM who knows what might be possible..(?)

I have my Nikon DSLR for use with a reducer at the other end of my present C9.25 (I have an Antares f6.3 one) or a reducer (either the one Brian Allan is now using or the proposed Edge reducer) with the Edge 8"..

For Hyperstar I have the option of a (possible) QHY 8 on this scope (but not the Nikon as the camera body blocks too much of the front aperture), my present Flea 2, Scorpion 20SOM or possibly a PGR Chameleon which I understand is quite reasonably priced.

I haven`t checked on the range of the Chameleon`s for a while & to my knowledge PGR dosen`t post prices of their cameras on the website..

Again there`s the possibilty of a Mono Chameleon (if they`re available..?)..

I have an Atik manual filter wheel already (never used) but no LRGB filters yet..

I also have a new Skywatcher ED80 to begin practising guiding with..!

If the weather stayed as it is here I could be making real progress each night but of course the first consistently good weather we`ve had in months has co-incided with me not having a working mount..!

When the CGEM is all payed for & arrives I want to build a basic shed & pavers observatory (possibly with removable roof panels) as it`s the consistent heavy rain & the scope being out under covers which has probably played havoc with the CG-5`s electrics..


Mark.