Modification of 14" telescope - 3, field test

[Chanlunlun]

Dear ATMs,

While we are busy with the 30 inch telescope project we proceed with the 14 inch telescope project at the same time. Last night a sudden clear weather appeared and this provided an excellent chance to test our modified equilateral platform – we are eager to see whether home made junk can carried out duties which are thought belonging to premium equatorial mount.

The platform performs satisfactory. With two driving D.C. motor the target can be centered with ease. In non-windy night the platform tracks the target accurately and if any error present it could be compensated by pressing the slewing buttons.

The followings are the technical data :-

Telescope - homemade 14 inch f/5 Newtonian, with ETL-2 2X barlow lens.
Camera - ToUCam, stacking 120 frames.
Mount - homemade equilateral platform with declination axis slow motion control. Driven by d.c. motors.
Process - Registax V.1.0.

There is one great problem – the manual focusing process creates severe vibration and seriously affects focusing accuracy. We just cannot judge when and where a sharp image arrived. A motorized focuser must be installed on the telescope in the shortest possible time, if the power of the 14 inch telescope is to be fully released. For a 14 inch telescope the image of Saturn should be much better, if we can precisely focus the image. We need a remote controlled focuser badly.

Last but not least I wish to point out that with resources available today we can homemade nearly every stuff that is required for astronomical projects ( in old days we don』t have computers, stepper motors, dc gearhead motors, ToUCam…….). Before buying your expensive mounting may be you should think twice welther you can DIY them. Besides saving great deal of money you also train up your own hands.

Best regards
Chan Yuk Lun

[Wah!]

粒土星可以追幾耐而唔走出畫面呀?
第一次拍,已是不錯喇!

[Chanlunlun]

粒土星可以追幾耐而唔走出畫面呀?
第一次拍,已是不錯喇!

Dear Mr. Wah,

If polar alignment is accurate the target will stay inside the frame for 10 minutes, provided that there is no wind.

Best regards
Chan Yuk Lun

[Tarepanda]

很清楚啊 ,可否再放大些?
如果是用傳統相機拍照,在暴光期間,士星雖然沒跑出畫面,
但動來動去,照出來的相片會不會有幾個土星成像的?

[Chanlunlun]

很清楚啊 ,可否再放大些?
如果是用傳統相機拍照,在暴光期間,士星雖然沒跑出畫面,
但動來動去,照出來的相片會不會有幾個土星成像的?

ery

Dear Mr. Tarepanda,

If you are speaking film camera, yes.

Best regards
Chan Yuk Lun

[HK.Raymond.Tse]

Better use 2.5x/4x/5x Powermate. This cannot be home-made.

Acceptable tracking for 14-inch. How about EQ platform for your 30-inch Dob ?

Raymond

[Wah!]

Any photos for the whole setting?

[Chanlunlun]

Better use 2.5x/4x/5x Powermate. This cannot be home-made.

Acceptable tracking for 14-inch. How about EQ platform for your 30-inch Dob ?

Raymond

Dear Raymond,

Totally agree with you. Actually we have just purchased a 5X TeleVue powermate. It's so expensive !

The 30 inch telescope will not have equatorial platform. Instead we are trying to install dual axis alt-azm tracking motors.

Best regards
Chan Yuk Lun