Deep Space Imaging Equipment
The equipment I use for deep-space imaging is reasonably modest and contains a mix of new and 2nd hand equipment. The picture of the complete setup is shown below, and then I’ll describe each of the components. I’ll replace these pictures with more purpose-taken ones soon.
Imaging Telescope
I use a Saxon ED80 as my imaging scope. It has a focal ratio of f/7.5 and a 600mm focal length. It is fitted with the standard single-speed crayford focuser 9×50 straight-through finderscope.
Guide Scope
I use a generic 80mm f/5 refractor (focal length 400mm) as my guide scope. It was bought second hand, with rings, for AU$200 and serves me perfectly fitted side-by-side with the Saxon ED80.
Mount and Side-by-Side Dovetail
I use a standard SkyWatcher EQ6 as the mount to hold both refractors. After carrying a 12″ Newtonian around, there’s likely quite a bit of periodic error and there is backlash in the gears. However for shortish focal length deep-space imaging, as long as I’m auto-guiding, the EQ6 does a fine job and the stars generally come out nice and round as long as i’ve balanced the setup and properly drift align. The side-by-side dovetail is a vixen style which has just enough room to fit both refractors and their rings without getting in each others way.
Imaging Camera
I use a standard (non-modded) Canon 350D as my deep-space imaging camera. It’s used at prime focus (without the lens) with or without the Williams Optics 0.8x reducer/flattener in the Saxon ED80. The ED80 is then effectively acting as a long telephoto lens.
Canon EOS 350D Digital SLR
Guide Camera
I use a DMK21AU04 from The Imaging Source as my guide camera. It’s a monochrome camera with 640×480 pixel resolution and is an excellent intermediate/advanced level imaging device, especially given its low cost. It can capture at up to 60 frames per second (fps) through a USB (or firewire) interface and has a 1/4″ Sony CCD with a pixel size of 5.6 microns, giving a good image scale for most applications. It’s sensitive enough to be used as a guide camera and works well with all guiding applications.
DMK21AU04
Accessories
Reducer/Flattener
I use the Williams Optics 0.8x Type II reducer/field flattener, which changes the Saxon ED80 into a 480mm f/6 refractor – slightly faster focal ratio for astrophotography, less focal length for a wider field of view, and flattens the field to reduce the field curvature evident in the ED80.
Filters
I use an IDAS LPS P2 light-pollution filter screwed into the WO 0.8x reducer/flattener.
GPUSB Guide Adapter
I use the Shoestring Astronomy GPUSB adapter to guide my EQ6 mount. It takes commands from a guiding program such as PHD Guiding, and converts them into the protocol used by the EQ6.
Long-Exposure Serial Cable
The long-exposure serial cable takes commands from a camera control program such as Images Plus, and controls the Canon 350D while taking long-exposures.
Light box
The light box is used for taking flat-fields after an imaging run to even out vignetting and dust motes. It’s powered by my dew-controller.
What’s Next?
With deep-space imaging, there’s always more you can buy. You can get a bigger, more solid, more accurate mount to get better guiding and tighter stars. You can get a very expensive APO telescope with flat fields and corrected lens, you can get computer controlled focusers, you can get massive cooled CCD cameras. Literally the sky is the limit and you could spend AU$40,000 without trying too hard. For me though, the first step is to get my Canon 350D modded, which means removing the filter in front of the CMOS and replacing it with a UV/IR filter which doesn’t block hydrogen-alpha light. This will allow me to capture fainter nebula on some targets.
More Images
You can see more images of my deep space imaging equipment in my Equipment Gallery and images taken using this equipment in my Deep Space Gallery.
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posted in Articles, Astronomy | 8 Comments
My name is Mike Salway and I'm an amateur astronomer and photographer. I'm the co-founder of 
My names Csab a Hadhazi.I am HUNGARYAN amateur astonomer.
wow nice job my friend can i ask u how much money u have tied up in this hobby i was thinkin bout it but think ill just stay with my dob orion xt 10 the white scope is that the short tube 80 mm by orion i was thinkin bout usen that for a finder off my dob or maybe u may have an idea may use it for photos but not big enough im sure…not sure i want to invest that much into the hobby my dob i figure ive got bout 1500 into it now with the lens anyways mate great show….ill be lookin at your site for a long while
Hi Gary
I bought most of my stuff second hand.
I guess all of my equipment (everything) would cost about AU$5000. I haven’t added it up
The short white scope is a no-name refractor, 80mm f/5.
THANKS MIKE NOT SURE WHAT ILL BUY EITHER A REFRACTOR OR REFLECTOR IM LOOKIN AT THE ORION SKYVIEW PRO 8 NEWT OR MAYBE THE ORION 120ST REFRACTOR..FOR ASTRO AND ILL TRY AND MIMICH WHAT UVE DONE TO YOUR DOB WITH MY XT 10
Hi mike,
How has it been?? I was wondering about some pointers on astrophotography with a DSLR.. I have a olympus E420, very nice camera, but having trouble with taking long exsposure. What do i need to do. Also wher can i get a GUSB cable and the nesscesary equipment like a focal ext and other things i need to have a great inmage.
thanks
claudio
Mike,
What scope do you use with the DMK for guiding?
I’ve wondered if there might be a standard industrial lens that could be used, making a very compact guide system.
Lance