Sponsored By:

Subject: Pictor 201XT (results)
From: RLECKER@aol.com
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Fri Apr 19 03:01:42 1996

I'm getting the hang of using the upgraded Pictor 201 XT and our astronomy
group is having simular results. We also have several in our group who have
the SBIG ST-4. We also have the gentleman in our group who has done the
redesign work on the Pictors. Its really nice to have a guy who knows the
Pictor so well plus knows the SBIG as well. He is the designer of the
Magellan as well which should be shipping soon.
I got two perfect exposed shots of the Trifid and M-4, each 30 minutes.
Three shots had a second bright star on the CCD chip and the exposures have
double vision where the chip guided equal time on each star (a mistake, but
ok on the learning curve). I practiced guiding on stars of 11th and 12th
mag. without much trouble for over 1 hour using a reticle to see if it would
drift, it didn't. Drift alignment is not a must and can be a detriment if
you have a problem with DEC delay, or reversal motor problems. Its seems to
work best with the DEC moving in one direction only (not back and forth).
The new version of the Pictor is really easy to use and a snap to calibrate.
It has a dark frame exposure and RA and DEC. calib. functions. It also has
a seeing function which allows for wind clouds and flickering (if you have
any of these problem you shouldn't photography anyway). I think it will work
great with CCD imagers as a guider......ric