Backyard observatory in the snow

Is is snowing for the first time in Holland and also in my backyard. Here's the backyard observatory in the snow for the 1st time. I was also able to solve the EQ6 power supply problems by reconnecting the 12V power cables in a better. Last Saturdaynight I driftaligned the EQ6 (with -5 degr. and the EQ6 power supply problems). Next clear night I will make a test astrophoto to see if the driftalignment procedure pays off. The good thing is that I built up some experience for the upcoming Halley Takahashi driftalignment.

More pictures of the Takahashi E-300/Jones-Bird combination

Here's a nice picture of the astrograph we are working on. It is a combination of a superb Takahashi Epsilon 300mm astrograph in combination with a 300mm Jones-Bird Newtonian mounted on a Astrotechniek CP-180 mount with FS2 control system. First we will get the communication going, restore goto capability (from laptop via Cartes du Ciel/ASCOM/LX200 protocol) and then we will test the autoguiding interface. After that we will refine polar alignment and do some serious astrophotography with this superb setup!

Recommissioning Takahashi Epsilon 300mm for astrophotography

A project has been started to re-commission the Takahashi Epsilon 300mm Newton for astrophotography (with the 300mm Jones-bird Newton as guidescope) for the Halley Observatory This setup is installed on a superb Astrotechniek CP-180 mount that first has to be correctly polar aligned with drift-alignment. The mount is fitted with an FS2 goto system including a ST4 autoguiding option. Everything I need.

Here's another picture of the setup in the small observatory (the C14 on CGEM-pro is in the bigger observatory, primarily used for presentations to the public)

Here's an example of the CP-180 mount. We have to figure out how to adjust the azimuth with this mount.

Here are some specifications on the superb Takahashi Epsilon-300 astrograph:

Opening: 300mm F3.8

Focal length: 1140mm

Central obstruction: 0.36

The focal length does not scare me, I am using 1000mm now on my EQ6pro. What is very challenging to me is the collimation of a F3.8 system with the barlowed laser method.

First light with the 2nd hand NEQ6 mount: Algol, the Demon Star

This is the first testshot I made with the 2nd hand NEQ6 I bought a few weeks ago. It is a single frame shot of 30sec exposure at ISO800 with the Eos400d in primary focus of the 200mm Newtonian telescope. The guiding is very tight. I need to focus on collimation because that is clearly visible on this picure. The MPCC could not compensate all.

The datalogging of the autoguiding shows a much smoother running on the RA axis (the undershoot is when I touched the cam between exposures). Next step is focus on driftalignment and reducing coma.