TheSkySearchers

I am mainly a solar imager as well as some Lunar so I have mostly Refractors and a 127 Mak and C8. I am also a Nature photographer, mostly "birds in flight" so have a lot of camera gear including 100-400 and 60-600 lenses ( www.jeffpadell.com ) I haven't done any DSO imaging, other than with the SLOOH rental scopes, in 18 months.

First I am very tree challenged, being able to see the sky 20 degree to the west of the meridian (S-SSW) and 50 degrees to the east of the meridian (almost to SE) and then from North to NW. Of course North is right over the mall 300 feet away and South is over the factory 600 feet away and the Norwood Automile with 15 car dealers and Gillette Stadium are all within sight.
My typical sky is Bortle 7.5, on a REALLY dark night I get Bortle 7.0 but typically 7.5.

I know I should probably just work with the scopes I have, including a Stellarvue SV80 (f/6.3?) Lunt 102ED (f/7), and my C8 Edge.

BUT I guess I have GAS (Gear acquisition syndrome)

I saw an ad in Astronomy Mag for the Celestron Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph f/2.0 and shooting in LP skies. It peaked my interest but wonder if it might be like Commander Spock said "sometimes having is not so pleasing as wanting"

What do people think about RASA scopes? And are they worth getting and using?

My DSO efforts are at https://solarhead.shutterfly.com/thedarkside

As I am sitting here with my coffee I realize that I should first get good with the gear I have! Having the best gear if you can't utilize it to its or my ability or lack thereof doesn't make sense.

I should be doing what I can with my refractors and C8 and my DSLR's and lenses and ZWO cameras (yes I have a lot of stuff)

For my ZWO cameras I use Sharpcap and my Canon DSLR's I use BackyardEOS, at least the last time I did DSO almost two years ago

I don't know much anything about astrophotography, but C8 is also 8". And the RASA is more than 2 kg heavier. Somehow looks like lot of money with not that much gain.

turboscrew wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 4:36 pm I don't know much anything about astrophotography, but C8 is also 8". And the RASA is more than 2 kg heavier. Somehow looks like lot of money with not that much gain.

I guess it is just the speed, f/10 vs f/2

But I am going to learn to use what I have now, avoid getting GAS

Ben Cartwright SASS wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 2:45 pm As I am sitting here with my coffee I realize that I should first get good with the gear I have! Having the best gear if you can't utilize it to its or my ability or lack thereof doesn't make sense.

I should be doing what I can with my refractors and C8 and my DSLR's and lenses and ZWO cameras (yes I have a lot of stuff)

For my ZWO cameras I use Sharpcap and my Canon DSLR's I use BackyardEOS, at least the last time I did DSO almost two years ago

This is very good self advice. It was what I was going to recommend. You have the gear you already need to get the most out of your sky given your local conditions.

Cheers

Ben Cartwright SASS wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 9:52 pm

turboscrew wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 4:36 pm I don't know much anything about astrophotography, but C8 is also 8". And the RASA is more than 2 kg heavier. Somehow looks like lot of money with not that much gain.

I guess it is just the speed, f/10 vs f/2

But I am going to learn to use what I have now, avoid getting GAS

The C8 EdgeHD is also capable of F/2 with Fastar technology https://www.celestron.com/pages/fastar-technology

If your interest is the focal speed, I would look into Fastar. That would give you the flexibility of a F/10, F/7 OTA and converting it to F/2 if you wanted. The optical system is also slightly different between the two, the Edge includes all the correctors and flattener built into the design. I am no expert by any means and couldn't tell you which optical system is better than the other for your purposes.

My wish is for a C9.25 that I would then adapt using Fastar but that is in the decent future for me as I still need to learn to use the equipment I have now. My advise, for what it's worth, is what you have already come up with

https://www.celestron.com/products/edge ... ifications

https://www.celestron.com/products/8-ro ... ifications

chris_g wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 1:55 am If your interest is the focal speed, I would look into Fastar. That would give you the flexibility of a F/10, F/7 OTA and converting it to F/2 if you wanted. The optical system is also slightly different between the two, the Edge includes all the correctors and flattener built into the design. I am no expert by any means and couldn't tell you which optical system is better than the other for your purposes.

Chris, there is no more faster. It is now called Hyperstar offered by Starizona in Tucson, AZ. If you look closely at the Celestron link you provided, there is nothing linked to anything to buy. It just talks about Fastar without getting you the hardware. This is why you have to go to Starizona.
https://starizona.com/products/hyperstar-8-v4

Cheers

JayTee wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:16 pm

chris_g wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 1:55 am If your interest is the focal speed, I would look into Fastar. That would give you the flexibility of a F/10, F/7 OTA and converting it to F/2 if you wanted. The optical system is also slightly different between the two, the Edge includes all the correctors and flattener built into the design. I am no expert by any means and couldn't tell you which optical system is better than the other for your purposes.

Chris, there is no more faster. It is now called Hyperstar offered by Starizona in Tucson, AZ. If you look closely at the Celestron link you provided, there is nothing linked to anything to buy. It just talks about Fastar without getting you the hardware. This is why you have to go to Starizona.
https://starizona.com/products/hyperstar-8-v4

Cheers

Sorry, I knew that Starzona now offers the actual hardware, I didn't think though to put that in. Celestron still calls it Fastar and Starzona does say it's based on a Celestron's Fastar feature. I was just trying to convey that the OTA he has was capable of F/2 with additional tech, one tech junkie to another tech junkie

I had forgotten about Fastar! I also have a Canon 70-200L mk III f/2.8 that would be good for something like M31 or M45 as my ZWO adapter fits it and my ZWO cooled cameras