We operate with 0.25m, f/4.7 Newton telescope, mounted on upgraded EQ-6 mount and connected to our PCs by EQ-6 update kit. The main CCD camera is MX-716 with QE pick of around 70%. From July 2006, we use a focal reducer reducing the focal length from 1200mm to 820mm (f/3.2). Our FOV is 20×27 arc min, with pixel scale of 1.47. For autoguiding we use a Mintron camera attached to a small refractor (D=70мм, f=500mm). We usually take a number of images with expose time of 40 sec and than stack them with the objects speed and direction. Normally, we perform 3 stacks each with total integration time of 10 or 20 min. For 20 minutes expose time we reach objects with 21V+ magnitude and 20.4V at level of 30-40 degree above the horizon.
Update 2009: We upgraded our equipment by 35cm “Orion Optics” Newton reflector. The OTA was mounted on a NEQ-6 mount. We operate at f/3.4 now using our focal reducer and achieve an FOV of around 14×19 arc min, which is obviously too small even for MB asteroid search. For further we hope to upgrade the main camera to SBIG ST-8300 and to attach our old MX-716 camera on the small 25 cm telescope. In this way we will be able to use both 35cm and 25cm telescopes. Orion Optics OTA can be used for our astrometry program when the small telescope for other programs, as such for example, variable stars and transit studies.
Update 2010: Update: In July 2010 we performed a significant upgrade and now we operate by ST-8300 CCD camera in combination with ASA Wynne corrector (×0.73 reducer) that makes FWHM of the stars very low (2.3-3.2 arc sec) for 40 second exposition. In this way our FOV has been extended to 39 × 51 arc min, we work in F/3.5 mode, and in the same time due to the lower noise of the CCD the limit magnitude is equivalent or better than previously. An additional CCD guide (Luna6-QHY6) was purchased too that replaced our old Mintron camera. Below you can find some images obtained by our new camera.
The above set up has been tested in July, but in August the mount crashed and A79 started full operation in September 2010. However, in October our main CCD crashed and we sent it to SBIG.
IC5146
Stefan’s Quintet
