RE: [M]: Opinions, please!
| Subject: | RE: [M]: Opinions, please! |
| From: | Michael Hart |
| Date: | Sat Oct 18 02:01:42 1997 |
On Thursday, October 16, 1997 7:26 PM, Randy Rubis wrote:
> Greetings Kip,
>
> I can only comment on the devices that I actually own. I have a 10"
> LX200 f/10 and I use the Orion full aperture solar filter. I find that
> it gives a very crisp and realistic (color) image of the sun. The Orion
> solar filter resembles the Thousand Oaks almost exactly but is a little
> cheaper. I believe their "type II" is about $20-$30 more. I also use
> the Tuthill polar alignment scope. Its actually a rifle scope mounted
> on an aluminum "I" beam. Construction is excellent and he supplies you
> with a laminated polaris location chart. The chart gives you the value
> to adjust the polar scope based on date and time. The polar scope is a
> necessity for me because I observe from a wheelchair and find it
> difficult to view through the EP when pointing at Polaris. The LX200s
> alignment routine essentially does the same thing as the Polar Scope so
> if you can reach the EP you really dont need the costly polar scope.
> It goes for around $300.00US including shipping. Regarding the CCD
> camera. I have been struggling with this question for a long time. I
> have found that the ST-6b, by SBIG, is the best for the LX200 f/10
> scope. Now thats MY opinion and Im sure that many will disagree. I
> will be placing the order for the ST-6b as soon as Dan from Spectra
> delivers my Homeyer flip mirror. I wont order till then. (hint hint
> Dan). I believe that your students will get the most out of the solar
> filter. Its amazing how dynamic the sun can be. Drop by my web site
> if you would like to see pictures of the solar filter, CCD mounted on
> the ETX guidescope and soon the Tuthill polar scope will be on the
> site. Good luck and Clear Skies!
>
>
> Randy-Michigan
>
I dont own a ST-6 or the newer ST-6b, but I use one from time to time.
I like the deep wells of the ST-6 (around 350,000 VS 85,000 for my non ABG
ST-7 and 45,000 an ABG ST-7. In addition, the Q/E (quantum efficiency)
is MUCH higher in the ST-6, slashing imaging times. The new ST-6b adds
better cooling over the ST-6, improving the S/N (signal/noise) ratio.
While the ST-6 requires a separate control box and the ST-7 doesnt, the
ST-6 is much better balanced and only has 1 wire from the camera head
rather than the 3 on my ST-7. Serial downloads are slower, but not too
bad as the array is smaller.
--
Michael Hart
Husen Observatory
mhart@netexpress.net
> Greetings Kip,
>
> I can only comment on the devices that I actually own. I have a 10"
> LX200 f/10 and I use the Orion full aperture solar filter. I find that
> it gives a very crisp and realistic (color) image of the sun. The Orion
> solar filter resembles the Thousand Oaks almost exactly but is a little
> cheaper. I believe their "type II" is about $20-$30 more. I also use
> the Tuthill polar alignment scope. Its actually a rifle scope mounted
> on an aluminum "I" beam. Construction is excellent and he supplies you
> with a laminated polaris location chart. The chart gives you the value
> to adjust the polar scope based on date and time. The polar scope is a
> necessity for me because I observe from a wheelchair and find it
> difficult to view through the EP when pointing at Polaris. The LX200s
> alignment routine essentially does the same thing as the Polar Scope so
> if you can reach the EP you really dont need the costly polar scope.
> It goes for around $300.00US including shipping. Regarding the CCD
> camera. I have been struggling with this question for a long time. I
> have found that the ST-6b, by SBIG, is the best for the LX200 f/10
> scope. Now thats MY opinion and Im sure that many will disagree. I
> will be placing the order for the ST-6b as soon as Dan from Spectra
> delivers my Homeyer flip mirror. I wont order till then. (hint hint
> Dan). I believe that your students will get the most out of the solar
> filter. Its amazing how dynamic the sun can be. Drop by my web site
> if you would like to see pictures of the solar filter, CCD mounted on
> the ETX guidescope and soon the Tuthill polar scope will be on the
> site. Good luck and Clear Skies!
>
>
> Randy-Michigan
>
I dont own a ST-6 or the newer ST-6b, but I use one from time to time.
I like the deep wells of the ST-6 (around 350,000 VS 85,000 for my non ABG
ST-7 and 45,000 an ABG ST-7. In addition, the Q/E (quantum efficiency)
is MUCH higher in the ST-6, slashing imaging times. The new ST-6b adds
better cooling over the ST-6, improving the S/N (signal/noise) ratio.
While the ST-6 requires a separate control box and the ST-7 doesnt, the
ST-6 is much better balanced and only has 1 wire from the camera head
rather than the 3 on my ST-7. Serial downloads are slower, but not too
bad as the array is smaller.
--
Michael Hart
Husen Observatory
mhart@netexpress.net
