Equipment

Current astrophotography equipment:

RASA8 complete imaging system, including
Celestron RASA8 telescope tube, ZWO AM5N mount, Zwo ASI183 cooled camera, ASIAir controller, ZWO focuser, gide scope and camera and elecronically controlled dew heater system. Also shown is a finder scope and red dot finder, along with an LED flats illuminator on the dew shield.

Equipment List:

Mount – ZWO AM5N
Telescope tubes
Celestron RASA8 F/2 400mm FL
Apertura CarbonStar 150mm F/9 RC FL 1270mm
Apertura 0.67 Focal Reducer – with RC FL is 989 @ F/5
TMB 80mm F/6.3 600mm FL triplet APO refractor
Celestron C5 SCT
Cameras
ZWO ASI183 20MP cooled CCD
ZWO ASI290 guide camera
QHY8 6MP cooled CCD camera
Controller
ZWO ASIAir Pro PLus
Guide Scope
Orion 50mm Guide scope
ZWO Off-axis guider for RC scope
Dew heater system
Home brew dual channel proportional controlled, based on temperature
readouts and dew point measurement. Multiple heaters.
Power supply
12V 30A
Electronic Focuser
ZWO EAF Auto Focus

Descriptions:

Celestron 8” RASA
This Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) 8″ f/2, FL 400 mm is great for capturing large portions of the night sky in a single frame. For astrophotography only, the optical elements within this RASA 8 provide an inherent flat field, razor sharp stars, and photos absent of aberration. Celestron has also furnished their RASA series with mechanisms such as a smooth internal focuser and an integrated telescope cooling system. 

Apertura’s CarbonStar imaging optical design is a 6″ Ritchey-Chretien (RC) folder reflector. The 6″ f/9 optics of this scope provide a native 1377mm focal length window into space that does not require the correction of other compound reflector designs, The RC mechanical design is a blend of sturdy steel, weight-saving but rigid carbon fiber, including top and bottom Vixen-style dovetails for accessory and scope mounting. The optional 0.67 focal reducer yields a flat field, 989mm FL @ F/5.

ZWO AM5N Harmonic Equatorial GoTo Mount
Designed with a strain wave gear reducer and synchronous belt for precise control, the ZWO AM5N Harmonic Equatorial GoTo Mount offers go-to equatorial tracking for astrophotography via a smartphone app or an ergonomic hand controller. The mount weighs just 12.1 pounds but can support payloads up to 33 pounds on its own or 44 pounds with a user-supplied counterweight and shaft. A brake system ensures the mount won’t topple in the event of a power failure. The mount runs on a user-supplied 12V, 5A power supply and is compatible with ZWO’s ASIAIR platforms.

The ASIAIR Mini Wi-Fi Astrophotography Control Hub from ZWO has ports for plugging in control and power cables for your camera, mount, motorized focuser, electronic filter wheel, and dew heater. With the ASIAIR app for iOS or Android, you can control each component of your rig through the ASIAIR Mini via Wi-Fi. Tthe ASIAIR app lets you plan and launch fully automated imaging sessions. It requires a 12V 5A power supply to operate the hub.

Some of my old setups