Setup for D70 DSLR astrophotography with manual guiding

[maguro77]

Hi all,

i am starting out astrophotography using nikon d70 with 300 mm lens and a 60mm guidescope. The mount is EQ mount with RA motor only and no autoguiding. The camera and guidescope is mounted on a side-by-side plate. I am also learning how to do drift alignment with the guidescope.

I am trying to figure out whether it matters if the line of sight of the camera lens and guidescope have to be exactly parallel - now both equipment are parallel cos they are in fixed positions on the side by side plate.

I guess what i am asking is - can the guidescope be pointing in one direction and the camera lens pointing in totally different directions (either mounted on a ballhead or slow motion camera adapter).

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Joyce

[perseid]

Hi all,

i am starting out astrophotography using nikon d70 with 300 mm lens and a 60mm guidescope. The mount is EQ mount with RA motor only and no autoguiding. The camera and guidescope is mounted on a side-by-side plate. I am also learning how to do drift alignment with the guidescope.

I am trying to figure out whether it matters if the line of sight of the camera lens and guidescope have to be exactly parallel - now both equipment are parallel cos they are in fixed positions on the side by side plate.

I guess what i am asking is - can the guidescope be pointing in one direction and the camera lens pointing in totally different directions (either mounted on a ballhead or slow motion camera adapter).

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Joyce

Since you are using 300mm lens, I suggest you learn to do good polar alignment first. If your polar alignment is accurate, you don't need guiding. (of course providing that your mount is reasonably accurate). I have taken 90 sec unguided shot at 500mm FL with pin point stars.

I think you should be able to do at least 90 sec with your 300mm. At this duration, couple with a fast lens maybe F4, you can capture most famous deepsky objects. 90sec may also be the most you can make from light polluted area.

Back to your question, it doesn't matter if your guide scope and main scope is pointing at different direction. What you have to concern is the balancing and where your guide scope is pointing. Star appear to move faster at celestial equator. If your camera point near celestial equator, it is not advisable to point your guide scope at or near celestial pole.

just my 2 cents

[kochu]

Hi all,

I am also learning how to do drift alignment with the guidescope.


Joyce

Hi

For drift alignment ,your guide scope should have to be used with reticle eyepiece . But you may be able to do drift alignment using your DSLR with out additional equipment.

Kochu/9-6-09

[Meng Lee]

Oh,

Just a side remark, you can't make dec corrections if you don't have the dec motor, then actually you can't manual guide. I suggest you just do drift alignment and take unguided exposures (in raw mode) and stack them.

ML