Bare minimum gear needed for AP

[pearl pilot]

I used to use my 10" dob for visual but after moving I recently acquired a refractor for portability. Aside from observing I thought I'd take a crack at AP, so I'm wondering what a completely barebones setup looks like given that I already have the scope. When I say barebones I just want to get what I need to start out, and if I'm enjoying the process I'd slowly start acquiring more stuff. I know some setups have tons of accessories, but for now is there anything I'd really need aside from a goto mount and a camera (will prob get a simple DSLR for now)?

Bare minimum gear needed for AP

[north grove]

Yeah a goto mount is essential, a Skywatcher GTI is a good small option aslong as your scope isnt too big or to much focal length, a guide cam and guide scope are very important too, camera wise it really depends, DSLRs have built in filters that cut out Hydrogen alpha (Red space dust) so youd ideally want a astro modified/full spectrum one, they have nice and big sensors, but if you want a cooled dedicated astronomy cam then a Uranus C pro is a really good option but alot smaller sensor if thats a issue for you, if you do want a modified DSLR i may be selling one fairly soon incase your interested but thats sort of off topic lol but those are the essentials in my opinion, of course cables and a laptop or minipc are required too

[pearl pilot]

I was taking a look at the celestron advanced VX mount (someone is selling an older model used nearby) but this one looks good too, and for around the same cost is brand new. Apparently it pairs with a smartphone app for selecting which objects to track, do I still need a laptop in that case?

(also I would def be interested in that camera)

[north grove]

Yeah id definitely avoid the AVX, it is known for having many many issues after a few months of usage, a EQ 5 pro is about the same price as a new AVX but way better overall, and yeah youll need a laptop for the camera control and guiding, plus you get alot of tools like platesolving which will frame up your target very very accurately, way more than what the mobile app can do (: and yeah ill let you know when its up, itll be around 400 for the camera and a load of essentials (batteries, SD card, UV/IR cut filter, dummy battery T ring, M48 T ring adapter)

[pearl pilot]

Sorry to bombard you with questions but a couple things:

1. The scope came with a 2" reflectivity diagonal, I understand all it does is reflect the image at an angle so that it is easier to look through the scope, but I'm assuming this won't be part of an AP setup?
2. Is a finderscope needed? It was super useful for finding objects when I used a dob (or is a guide scope the same thing)

and yeah feel free to ping or dm me when you have it up!

[north grove]

Hey! no need to be sorry, ask away! yeah so the diagonal is purely for visual uses only, with a AP setup youll thread it directly onto the back or screw it into the scope
For question 2 a finder scope is not needed at all, basically when you connect it to a laptop, you can ask the mount to slew to a object, then itll use the main imaging camera to take a picture, and using the stars in that picture, it knows how far off it is and will reslew until its perfectly accurate, you dont even need to find the objects manually at all (:

[pearl pilot]

Gotcha, in terms of brands or types of guide scopes do I need to find something that is "compatible" with the scope and/or mount, or can I get any generic guide scope

[north grove]

Possibly yeah, some scopes can fit guidescopes where the finder scope would sit, and some you need to buy different things like rings and dovetails, what scope do you have?

[pearl pilot]

it is the explore scientific ed127

The guy I purchased it from included the diagonal and two focuser rings

which I believe come with the scope from ES regardless

There is a finder scope shoe already installed on the scope, so I'm assuming the guide scope sits on that, does the guide cam go on top of the guide scope?

[north grove]

Yeah this guide scope could fit on it (the one below) and should work well with it! the guidecamera will go into the focuser of the guidescope and from there you can focus

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/guide-scopes/astro-essentials-60mm-guidescope-finderscope.html

I believe this one will fit, but i cant find any information on what the finderscope shoe uses for mounting, so this is very much a guess

[pearl pilot]

I believe this is the one on the scope https://agenaastro.com/explore-scientific-vixen-synta-style-hybrid-finder-scope-base-fb2n1-00.html

[north grove]

Yeah looks exactly like it thanks! ill find a more suited guidescope

[pearl pilot]

there is also "cradle rings with handle and vixen dovetail rail" installed on the scope

[north grove]

Yeah thats really helpful in some cases but you should be good to use the finder scope holder with this guidescope, its abit more expensive but alot better suited for the scope you want to use https://www.firstlightoptics.com/guide-scopes/omegon-90-f55-ota.html

Also thought id put this here, since you have got quite a large scope for the SW GTI mount, which i personally wouldnt put on it, heres a deal thats came up recently, think this mount will be alot better suited for the scope

https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=206698

[pearl pilot]

Oh that looks good but I'm located in the US unfortunately

I forgot about this but will a field flattener be very important as well?

[north grove]

Oh damn, I’m uk sooo lol yeah a field flattener it to make sure corner stars are fully sharp rather than out of focus and elongated

[pearl pilot]

Gotcha, I've been looking into guide scopes, do you have a preference between a normal guide scope and an OAG?

[north grove]

Guide scopes are alot easier to use as there is plenty of stars, and OAGs are better for longer focal lengths but it depends on backspacing because if your required backspacing is 55mm, then there isnt room for the OAG and DSLR to focus together

[pearl pilot]

I see, are you referring to the DSLR as the imaging camera or guide camera?

[north grove]

Yeah the DSLR, as the sensor is inside the DSLR by about 47~mm, and having the T adapter and UV/IR cut filter that adds on about 3-4 so youll pretty much at the 55mm limit before focus is unachievable, so no OAG or filter draw sadly

[north grove]

Hey @pearl pilot just thought id let you know that the price i said was in gbp, the price including shipping and VAT is about 650usd rounded, and just wanted to know if youd still be interested in it still so youd get first dibs lol, if not its very understandable

[pearl pilot]

What model camera is it?

[north grove]

Nikon D3500, w aload of accessories

[pearl pilot]

I see, I appreciate you giving me first dibs but it’s def out of my price range right now