EQUIPMENT

The Canon EOS 60Da is an 18 MP DSLR camera designed specifically for astrophotography.

In fact, the A in the camera’s name stands for Astrophotography.

The 60Da was designed to ensure accurate depictions of the red hues associated with many deep-sky emission nebula targets.

The CMOS camera sensor has an increased sensitivity to hydrogen-alpha, which sits at the 656nm transmission line. On regular DSLR camera bodies, this wavelength is significantly cut off due to its impracticality for daytime photography uses.

• Image Format: 23.3 x 14.9mm (APS-C) CMOS Sensor

• Pixels: 18 MP (5,200 x 3,462)

• Aspect Ratio: 3:2

• Colour Space: sRGB, Adobe RGB

• Lens Mount: Canon EF Mount

• ISO Range: ISO 100 – 6400 (12,800 available as custom function)

• Shutter: 1/8000 to 30 seconds

• LCD Monitor: 3″ Vari-angle LCD (3:2)

Planewave CDK 12.5” Corrected Dall-Kirkham

The CDK12.5 is an incredible breakthrough in telescope technology and produces no off-axis coma and no off-axis astigmatism. Additionally, the CDK12.5 provides a perfectly flat field so your astrophotographs will have stunning clarity from corner to corner of the image without field curvature degrading the photos.

Aperture 12.5” (318mm)

Focal Length 2541mm

Focal Ratio f/8

Central Obstruction 42% of the primary mirror

Optimal FOV 52mm image circle

ZWO ASI 2600MM-Pro USB 3.0 Cooled Mono

Sony IMX571 Sensor

6248x4176 3.76 μm Pixels

256MB DDR3 Memory Buffer

Zero Amp Glow!

Regulated two-stage Tec-Cooling: 35 degrees below ambient temperature.

Extremely low read noise - 1.0-3.3e

16Bit ADC - provides real 16bit dynamic range.

With a conventional front-illumination structure, the metal wiring and transistors on the silicon substrate surface that form the sensor’s light-sensitive area (photo-diode) impede photon gathering carried out by the on-chip lens. A back-illuminated structure minimises the degradation of sensitivity to optical angle response while also increasing the amount of light that enters each pixel due to the lack of obstacles, such as metal wiring and transistors that have been moved to the reverse of the silicon substrate.

ZWO V2 7x 36mm Electronic Filter Wheel (EFW)

CNC-machined from aircraft-grade aluminium, this ZWO filter wheel weighs 400g

Astronomik 36mm LRGB Ha S11 O111 filter set

MOAG Monster Off Axis Guider

MOAG means Manual Off-Axis Guider. It allows you to guide your telescope to obtain sharp, round stars by guiding in front of your filters using unfiltered light in the same optical beam as your imaging camera. This is particularly important for practical use of narrowband filters. It also eliminates potential differential flexure if you guide with a separate guide scope.

Starlight Xpress Lodestar Autoguider x2

The Lodestar is a compact stand-alone USB2.0 guide camera featuring the large, sensitive Sony ICX429AL Exview CCD.

Suitable for most mounts with a standard autoguider input.

Hi-Tec Mount Hub Pro

We use a hub on each of our setups to control USB switching, power outlets, focusers etc, the mount hub pro was one of the first on the market and are still a very capable unit.

The RIDK (Riccardi Dall-Kirkham) 305 mm F7.9

Longer focal length, unsurpassed resolution and imaging performance and the overall top quality of Officina Stellare products! The Officina Stellare way to the modified Dall-Kirkham optical design!

Performance details:

Primary mirror diameter: 305 mm (12")

Focal ratio: F7.9

Focal length: 2400 mm (95")

Linear obstruction: 48%

Full corrected and illuminated field: 63mm.

Dimensions: 490x490x910 mm

Weight: 27 Kg (60 lb)

RMS spot size under 3 microns on the full 63 mm field

Diffraction limited to the field edge in the 380-2000 nm, near UV to near IR, range!

Long back focus extraction: 240 mm (9.5")

Paramount ME Mount ( MKS5000 Upgrade)

German equatorial mount with research-grade 11-inch right ascension gears that provide unsurpassed tracking performance.

We carried out a major upgrade on this mount to bring the technology up to today’s standards.

ZWO ASI6200 MM-Pro Main Camera

Sony IMX455 Sensor

9576x6388 3.76 μm Pixels

256MB DDR3 Memory Buffer

Zero Amp Glow!

Regulated two-stage Tec-Cooling: 35 degrees below ambient temperature.

Extremely low read noise - 1.0-3.5e

Sony’s back-illuminated CMOS image sensor improves sensitivity and noise reduction – the key factors to enhancing image quality, while radically realigning their fundamental pixel structure from front-illumination to back-illumination. It has retained the advantages of CMOS image sensors, such as low power consumption and high-speed operation.

Starlight Xpress Maxi USB Filter Wheel

Astronomik 50mm LRGB Ha S11 O111 filter set

Starlight Express Ultrastar Guide Camera

Large Imaging Area (8.98mm x 6.71mm) giving you a wide field of view for framing galaxies or finding a suitable guide star.

Sensitivity - with an impressive 75% QE, and large pixels, the Ultrastar just sucks up those photons. Sensitivity is key but combined with the incredibly low noise of the Ultrastar, guiding is even easier.

Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox v3

We use a hub on each of our setups to control USB switching, power outlets, focusers etc. We have found the Pegasus to be one of the best.

The FSQ-85ED is based on the same ED glass Petzval quadruplet design as the larger FSQ-106ED but offers a 450mm focal length and 5.6° imaging field, which is ideal for astrophotography.

It is equipped with an oversized rack-and-pinion focuser and independent camera angle adapter.

Optical design Modified Petzval quadruplet apochromat

Aperture 85mm

Focal length 450mm

Focal ratio F5,3

Resolution 1,5"

Limiting magnitude 11,6

Light grasp 178x

Image circle 44mm

Photo field 5,6°

ZWO AM5 Harmonic Drive Equatorial Mount

Harmonic Drive mounts offer several advantages over conventional German Equatorial Mounts.

Traditional Equatorial mounts require counterweighting. The AM5 can work at loads up to 13kg without counterweights, making it a much lighter and more portable option.

The internal structure of the body is optimised with the Harmonic Drive Speed Reducer and Synchronous Belt, bringing more control and an amazing reduction Ratio of 300:1

ZWO ASI 2600MM-Pro USB 3.0 Cooled Mono

Sony IMX571 Sensor

6248x4176 3.76 μm Pixels

256MB DDR3 Memory Buffer

Zero Amp Glow!

Regulated two-stage Tec-Cooling: 35 degrees below ambient temperature.

Extremely low read noise - 1.0-3.3e

16Bit ADC - provides real 16bit dynamic range.

With a conventional front-illumination structure, the metal wiring and transistors on the silicon substrate surface that form the sensor’s light-sensitive area (photo-diode) impede photon gathering carried out by the on-chip lens. A back-illuminated structure minimises the degradation of sensitivity to optical angle response while also increasing the amount of light that enters each pixel due to the lack of obstacles, such as metal wiring and transistors that have been moved to the reverse of the silicon substrate.

ZWO V2 7x 36mm Electronic Filter Wheel (EFW)

CNC-machined from aircraft-grade aluminium, this ZWO filter wheel weighs 400g

Astronomik 36mm LRGB Ha S11 O111 filter set

ZWO Off Axis Guider (OAG) v2

Lightweight and only 16.5mm thick!

Large prism - 8x8mm

Guide through your main imaging scope - no guide scope required!

Starlight Xpress Lodestar Autoguider x2

The Lodestar is a compact stand-alone USB2.0 guide camera featuring the large, sensitive Sony ICX429AL Exview CCD.

Suitable for most mounts with a standard autoguider input.

Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance (PPBADV) Gen2

We use a hub on each of our setups to control USB switching, power outlets, focusers etc. We have found the Pegasus to be one of the best.