Hardware:

Meade LX-200, 10-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, with equatorial wedge.  Atop the LX200 is a Meade ETX125EC (5-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain) that serves as an autoguider when used with a Meade 216XT CCD imager.  The LX200 is seen here with a Meade 416XTE CCD imager, soon to be replaced by an Apogee AP47p 1024x1024 CCD imager.  Dew hoods are used on both telescopes.  Orion is in background.  [2001.11.18, Nikon Coolpix 990, ISO400, widea angle lens, 8-sec exposure with dark frame subtraction]

Close-up of older set-up.  216XT CCD imager and flip-mirror system.  Note also the mountaing bracket for standard cameras atop the rear telescope tube ring.

Location:  Residence at Santa Barbara, CA (-119.768 +34.449).

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This site opened:  September 16, 1999.  Last Update:  November 19, 2001