So, now i have all the parts i needed, including the focuser, dew heater, mounting bracket for the StellarMate Pro (SMPro) extra cables, and setting the back focus, i think i’m really to try first light on the C9.25.
Goal tonight will be to get the scope in focus and collimated. There is a lot if high cloud out there, but it shouldn’t really interfere with what i’m trying to do.
Any how, here is the new scope on the new pier mount, really to polar align at about 8:30pm when sky is dark enough.
Well, that went well.
– I got it the scope focused and auto focus runs seem to work well and are repeatable 😉
– Got the new Pier mount Polar Aligned
– Collimated the optics (yes they were miles out) terrible looking donuts !
The only thing I’ve had issues with is the OAG, which is odd as the distance from the camera to the OAG has not changed, all i can think is that the Prism is not intersecting the image circle, which is on the C9.25 HD 42mm, which is quite a lot smaller than the ZWO FF130 @ 60mm. I feel its not intersecting that circle !
So the the OAG issue persisted, but then the penny dropped ! TBF the scope is really setup for visual astronomy, with a nice 2″ diagonal and a coke can of an eye-piece !
Visual Astononmy and astrophotography is quite different.
So whats the issue?
Essentially the back plate that screws on the back of the SCT only has a 40mm hole, the Image circle for astrophotography is 42mm, (can you see the issue) so, this plate which essentially is set for visual astronomy is NOT suitable for astrophotography,
This essentially means that the train needs a re-think and of course the T-Adaptor which will be needed to ensure the light cone is not resticted. This essentially means the cone is too narrow for the OAG prisim to reach and when it does it cant focus inward far enough. So the theory is the light cone will be larger and and the OAG will reach and focus correctly 🙂 well thats the theory… lets see, it should arrive tomorrow 😉