Astrophotography Setup

Camera

Canon Digital Rebel XTi

This picture shows

     LX200 ->
     Meade f6.3 Focal Reducer ->
     Antares 2" Prime Focus Adapter ->
     Meade Canon T-Ring ->
     XTi

Mirror Stabilizer

1) One 6 inch long 1/4 inch, 20 thread (standard) bolt from a hardware store.
2) A 1/4 inch wing nut for the bolt.
3) One 1" - 1/4" inside diameter nylon spacer.
4) A 3 inch long, 1/4 inch inside diameter compression spring. with about a 5 pound load.

Meade Electric Focuser #1206

Here's the ya-da ya-da: Meade electric focusers are uniquely designed to yield smooth, precise microfocusing of the image, without disabling the manual focus knob, which may be used for rapid coarse focusing.

Complete Wiring Diagram

Telescope #1

Meade 10" f/10 Classic LX200 Schmidt Cassegrain 

It took me a long time to decide to purchase this telescope. I wanted something with decent aperture, portable (although it has become nearly impractical to tote around but not impossible,) and motorized. This easily narrowed down the choice to a SCT or a Refractor. Since the refractors I would want were the Apochromats that start at $3000, it was an easy choice to get an SCT. Now I wish I had a Tele Vue NP101 as well.