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Gerhard Bachmayer | all galleries >> AstroPhotos >> Astrophotos 2003 - 2007 > My Mobile Terrace Observatory ( MTO) I
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29-JAN-2006

My Mobile Terrace Observatory ( MTO) I

In case you ever wondered how my imaging setup looks like - here it is. The black tube is a modified Vixen R200SSDG ( different tube and a two-speed Crayford focuser from Moonlight), a fast Newton telescope ( 8"/F4).
The smaller, white refractor is a TMB 80/F6, an excellent apochromatic performer which is dedicated to wideangle images.
My Canon EOS 20D is attached to the smaller telescope, ready to shoot Ha-photos from the 'Sword of Orion' ( see http://www.pbase.com/gbachmayer/image/55729013/original). The camera is a modified version from Hutech, where the original IR-rejection filter has been replaced with clear glass. This results in a considerable boost of sensitivity to the deep red part of the spectrum, where the emission lines of H-alpha and SII are located.
Both telescopes are mounted on an OTE150, a very sturdy german mount from Astrotec, which could probably handle twice the weight.
On the table sits a laptop from Acer, which controls camera and mount ( positioning and autoguiding, which is done with a webcam). The laptop connects to the in-house WLAN, so I can check downloaded images immediately for flaws or quality deficits, while sitting in my heated office :-)

See also the next page for a different viewing angle.

Canon PowerShot S80
1/60s f/3.2 at 7.3mm with Flash full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Steve 11-Apr-2007 21:07
I have a question for you about your equipment. I noticed you're using the Astronomik Ha, OII, and SII filters. Which size do you use? 1.25" or 50mm?
Tom Abbott 03-Jan-2007 19:20
Hi Gerhard,
You seem to have the same cold balcony that I have in Engadine, 48 Lat. by 7 East, 1600 metres alt. I am about to set up a RCX400 10" with a TMB 80/600 piggy back. Imaging with a Canon 20Da. How cold does it have to go before the equipment starts to fail. It drops to -20C here at times.
Grateful for any advice
Tom Abbott (New to astro imaging).