Auto Guiding

[Murray]

Adolph,

You did not mention STAR 2000 in your list of equipment. This is the Starlight Express dedicated USB2 interface and auto-guide "black box" - allows you to use an SX guide camera or the main SX camera as a guide. This would allow you to use the SX CCD as an imager at the same time as your SLR - or you could use the SX unit on your main scope for imaging.

I am also getting into imaging and have chosen to go with SX as I am a Brit out here in good old South Carolina. My current set-up is a TAK mount and FS102 with an AT66 guide (once I get the SX guide camera head). The CCD is the SXV 716 (bought from Gary Beale who often contributes to this site). I had to go to Shoestring Astro (?) to get the interface cable between the TAK mount and the SX autoguide output socket.

Only problem is that the TAK mount is now too light to take all the equipment so I have put a deposit on an AP900 mount and am holding off till that gets here. Then I might try the new SX large format CCDs.

(I suppose there is as much fun plotting and planning the equipment set-up as anything else in this sport. Life is full of dreams !)

Anyway - STAR 2000 - if you have not already thought of it and written it off for some good reason.

Murray