6" Newtonian telescope on LXD-75 AutoStar mount astrophotography set plus DSI-3 Pro astrophotography camera!
Excellent value for money - check it out yourself!! +++
Short description:
We recommend our astrophotography set plus DSI-3 Pro camera for those who would like to get straight into astrophotography without any unnecessary 'detours'. The advantage of this camera is that it requires no external autoguiding. The camera compensates internally for any small tracking errors. The DSI-3 Pro has 1392x1040 pixels in an 8.9x6.7mm format. In combination with the 762mm focal length of the LXD-75 Newtonian, that gives approximately 1.8 arcseconds per pixel. For DSO exposures, the seeing in Germany is usually about 3 arcseconds. So the Nyquist criterion is optimally fulfilled. The DSI-3 comes with all the necessary adapters, cables and programs. Together with a PC, you can get started on the astrophotography of nebulae and galaxies immediately.
In detail:
This telescope set consists of:
1.6 " Newtonian telescope on LXD-75 with AutoStar
The ideal introduction to astronomy!
Light and portable, but already equipped with a GoTo mount, the 6" LXD 75 is ideal for beginners in astronomy. It allows you to get started in astrophotography and can also be built onto.
The LXD 75 mount comes equipped with tracking motors on both axes, which can accurately follow astronomical objects and can slew at up to 4.5° per second.
The AutoStar handbox operates the GoTo functions and controls the LXD 75 accurately and reliably.
Precision gearing on both axes allows operation with a minimum of backlash at all nine speeds.
Included in delivery:
- Newtonian OTA (D = 152mm; F = 762mm, f5) with AutoStar
- focuser with 2" and 1.25" eyepiece adapters and locking screw for fixing focus position
- 6x30 straight view finder scope (achromatic, with cross-hairs)
- 1.25", 26mm Series 4000 Super Ploessl eyepiece , giving 29X magnification
- LXD75 mount
- German user manual
- torsion-free tubular steel tripod
- AutoStar computer controller with more than 30,000 objects
- illuminated polar finder
2. 'Atlas für Himmels-Beobachter' book (in German)
A greatly expanded edition of the popular classic.
Now with photos of all 250 celestial objects!
His 'Atlas für Himmels-Beobachter' (Atlas for Celestial Observers) was a stroke of genius by Erich Karkoschka. Already published for 15 Years, this handy Atlas is no longer just the secret of a few 'insiders'. The completely revised new edition has been significantly improved: Each of the 250 objects recommended for observing - whether stars, nebulae or galaxies - is now also accompanied by a picture. Astronomy fans can find all the major attractions in the night sky inside it.
Special cover - 160 pages - Kosmos
Release date: August 2004
3. DSI III PRO astrophotography camera with AutoStar software suite
The new DSI III PRO has all the features of the older DSI models, but with a larger sensor.
It combines ease of use with a larger sensor, greater sensitivity, higher resolution and greatly reduced thermal noise. The Meade engineers have found a remarkable solution for reducing thermal noise without the need of complicated active cooling. This means that individual exposures with very long exposure times can also now be done. The DSI III PRO features a monochrome chip which has 3 times the sensitivity compared to the simpler colour version (not Pro).
DSI III PRO features:
- the DSI III PRO has 1392x1040 pixels in a 8.9x6.7mm format
- monochrome image output
- the camera has a 16-bit A/D converter and a very wide dynamic range.
- high speed USB 2.0 for downloading images from the camera via fast USB connection. Up to 2 full 16-bit images per second possible
- The DSI III PRO has an internal temperature sensor for fast and accurate dark frame subtraction. The temperature sensor allows ambient temperature dark frames to be subtracted automatically, so that it is virtually impossible to produce uncalibrated images.
- less noise means more data - all the images from the DSI III PRO are downloaded uncompressed, so there is no data loss in the raw images.
- Drizzle technology: the drizzle function was developed by NASA for processing images from the Hubble Space Telescope. It works with any AutoStar-controlled telescope. Drizzle has three advantages here:
1. Higher resolution without interpolation
2. Larger final image field - up to 4X larger
3. Field de-rotation via simple two-star calibration.
- no batteries: Simply connect the DSI III PRO to your PC using the USB 2.0 cable and it is ready to start image acquisition or autoguiding. No external power source is required.
- the AutoStar software suite for camera control and image processing comes as standard; so it is not necessary to buy expensive third-party add-on programs.
- light and portable: only weighs about 300g, so no counterweights are needed.
- versatile: the DSI III PRO works on virtually any telescope and can be used as a sensitive and user-friendly autoguider.
- AutoStar software suite - includes software for camera control, image processing and a complete planetarium program. The Envisage camera software, amongst other things, has:
1. Automatically time-delayed exposures: for creating films, e.g. Jupiter's rotation or moon transits
2. Automatic and manual exposure control
3. New histogram functions including automatic and manual adjustment and contrast control.
4. Automatic subtraction of dark frames: dark frames are automatically added and averaged and then subtracted, for a clean final image.
5. 'Magic eye': quick and clear focus assistance
6. Live histogram: to optimize the images for distortions.
Technical data:
- pixels (wxh) 1392x1040
- pixel size (wxh) 6.45 x 6.45 microns
- 16-bit A/D converter
- aluminium housing
- cooling via heat sink
- USB 2.0 and 1.1 compatible
- weight approx. 300g
- outer dimensions 100mmx100mm
Included in delivery:
- DSI III PRO
- USB connecting cable
- connecting cable for AutoStar and AutoStar II.
- parfocal ring
- software CD
Note: A set of filters in a filter slide are available at 120.00 Euros extra cost.
