Planet and Lunar Imaging Train Equipment Recommendations

[Kerry C.]

Some recommendations please. I am gathering the equipment needed for planet and lunar photography. This is what I have so far.
Scope....Celestron C8 (2032mm)
Imaging Camera.... Qhyccd 5iii462C with IR850 filter and IR UV filter.
Mount....HEQ5 Pro
I’m pretty sure I’ll need a 2x Barlow which brings me to my first question.
I’m willing to spend up to $200 U.S. for a good Barlow if I have to, obviously I don’t want to spend that much if I don’t need to, but do I need to? I don’t want to buy now and then buy again later because I didn’t get what I should have the first time.
So photography Barlow recommendations please.

Next, I have looked through photos of setups and noticed some use a diagonal and some don’t. I have both Celestron 2” and Explorer Scientific 2” Diagonals so if it is better to use a diagonal I am covered there. They are both claim the 99% reflectivity and both step down to 1.25”
So, should I use a diagonal or not?

Next, is there any other items required/needed to complete the imaging train?
Thanks,
Kerry

[sdbodin]

As for the barlow, just about any will do, since the planet cam has such a small chip it is just looking at the center of the field where aberrations are minimal. Personally, I use old camera 2x and 3x tele-extenders that were designed for SLR cameras to magnify your prime lens in the days before zoom lenses. Picked up some at the local pawn shop for $10 apiece, all are wide field and some are even triplets.

No diagonal, just another optical surface that will get in the way and not needed, just use an extension tube. The needed SCT to T thread camera adapter will work fine and a T to C will fit the QHY camera ensuring a solid connection without an inch and a quarter extension tube with the possibility of a small wedge component added by the thumb-screws.

Just my thoughts,
Steve

[sdbodin]

I'll have to amend my post as the QHY462 needs the included UV/IR filter to work which fits the included C to 1.25 adapter. So, you got to get to 1.25 tube and have to suffer the possibility of wedge and falling to the ground when the screw inevitably loosens unnoticed in the dark. If you are on grass, don't worry happens to all of us. Otherwise, hope it bounces, again, happens to all of us.

Steve

[Ed217]

You probably won’t need a barlow for the moon as that camera and scope are high magnification. For the moon you will actually need a focal reducer or a different camera.

For Jupiter or Saturn it may work well as is, but a barlow will bring things closer.

This web site will help greatly to see how things work:

http://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/

You can select scope, camera, and target and see a clear view of what you will get for images and frame size.

[JayTee]

Hi Kerry,

You’re limfac for planetary/lunar imaging is focus. You need a way to precisely focus your scope. I use both a Feather Touch micro focuser and a Crayford dual-speed screw-on focuser on my C11. The FeatherTouch was installed to replace the stock focuser on my C 11. The Crayford screws onto the visual back. With a C8 you will need to be careful about imaging too close to the zenith as the Crayford will hit the base of the mount. Fortunately, with planetary/linear imaging you rarely get near the zenith. Here’s a picture showing my setup. Don't pay attention to the focal reducer, I was going after a different object. Additionally, I almost always have a 2X barlow inserted into the Crayford (between the focuser and the camera) to double the FL.



Cheers,
JT

[Kerry C.]

As for the barlow, just about any will do, since the planet cam has such a small chip it is just looking at the center of the field where aberrations are minimal. Personally, I use old camera 2x and 3x tele-extenders that were designed for SLR cameras to magnify your prime lens in the days before zoom lenses. Picked up some at the local pawn shop for $10 apiece, all are wide field and some are even triplets.

No diagonal, just another optical surface that will get in the way and not needed, just use an extension tube. The needed SCT to T thread camera adapter will work fine and a T to C will fit the QHY camera ensuring a solid connection without an inch and a quarter extension tube with the possibility of a small wedge component added by the thumb-screws.

Just my thoughts,
Steve

Steve, thanks for the input. I ordered the SCT to 2” adapter with a 1.25 compression insert. I also ordered 1.25” 2x tele-extender that QHY camera will go in. The included filters that came with the camera screw directly onto the camera.
Kerry

[Kerry C.]

You probably won’t need a barlow for the moon as that camera and scope are high magnification. For the moon you will actually need a focal reducer or a different camera.

For Jupiter or Saturn it may work well as is, but a barlow will bring things closer.

This web site will help greatly to see how things work:

http://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/

You can select scope, camera, and target and see a clear view of what you will get for images and frame size.

Ed,
I already have the flatter reducer for the SCT...first thing I bought after getting that scope.
I have used that site a few times as well as others. Thanks for the input.
Kerry

[Kerry C.]

Hi Kerry,

You’re limfac for a planetary/lunar imaging is focus. You need a way to precisely focus your scope. I use both a Feather Touch micro focused and a Crayford dual speed screw-on focuser on my C11. The FeatherTouch was installed to replace the stock focuser on my C 11. The Crayford screws onto the visual back. With a C8 you will need to be careful about imaging too close to the zenith as the Crayford will hit the base of the mount. Fortunately, with planetary/linear imaging you rarely get near the zenith. There’s a picture showing my set up.


Cheers,
JT

JT,
Yea, I’m well aware about the limited “stock focusing” capabilities of Celestrons 8” SCT. I’ll need to start shopping and looking at the classifieds for something...just don’t know what route to go yet. Last year I bought Celestrons motorized focuser, it never worked properly and after several hours with tech support it was determined it was bad from stock, so I returned it and got my money back. I then got a Bahtinov mask and had pretty good luck focusing manually with it. Problem is that’s for stars... so I’ll have to do something.
I am open to suggestions as the which way to go though.
Where is the picture?
Kerry