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Remote observatory equipment setup (2600MM or 6200MM?)

Equipment Refractors Remote Astrophotography Buying Advice
15 replies•563 views
scope and camera combo
Single choice poll 36 votes
11% (4 votes)
47% (17 votes)
11% (4 votes)
6% (2 votes)
8% (3 votes)
14% (5 votes)
3% (1 vote)
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YingtianZZZ avatar
YingtianZZZ avatar
Hi,

I'm recently prepairing my remote observatory and still cannot decide the setup. My current idea is getting a 100-130mm refractor system (suppose both F6-F7), with GEM45/CEM70/EQ6R mount, and camera is 2600MM or 6200MM (I have both). I'll not be able to go to the site myself but the observatory maintainers will help me put everything together. I have several fast 400mm scopes at home so I can still use them, and I also have a RC8 and a C11, which is best focal length I put in remote, and is 2600MM or 6200MM better than the other?

Any suggestions will be appreciated as although I consulted some friends doing remote imaging, I'm still totally new to this area. Thank you!

Best,
Yigtian
YingtianZZZ avatar
YingtianZZZ avatar
If I choose 100mm apo, there would be over $1500 savings for both the scope and the mount (I don't need CEM70), EQ6R is a balanced mount that would just handle 130mm apos, and CEM70 will easily handle not only 130mm apo but even C11 in the future (I don't know if that will happen).
andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
What FOV you're after should really decide which combo to go for but beyond that aperture/FR is still king so I'd be inclined for a fast, big aperture scope. If high resolution is what you're after go for a long focal length large aperture combined with the largest camera you can put there, if the seeing is up to it (if it isn't, avoid). Most importantly, anything and everything you put remote needs to have reliability as quality N.1.
Bray Falls avatar
Bray Falls avatar
I would always suggest locking in on what FOV you desire for your targets, and then deciding upon the fastest OTA that will get you that FOV. For your possible setups, I would be leaning between the 100mm APO + 6200mm or the 8" newt + 2600mm. Both offer appreciably different FOV's, and are probably the fastest combinations.
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Dave Erickson avatar
Dave Erickson avatar
Always as much aperture on target as possable. I'd frame the objects you are interested in and from that set the image scale. Then its the biggest aperature at that scale you have budget for… And remember to have fun…
YingtianZZZ avatar
YingtianZZZ avatar
Thanks for everyone's suggestion! Newtonian is also the most economy-efficient scope, my only concern is 1. it only supports aps-c and 2. will it keep collimation?

The newtonian will be a Skywatcher-200mm and I'll upgrade its focuser / secondary mirror mount, and will pair with sharpstar-0.95x or similar coma corrector.
David Russell avatar
David Russell avatar
something like a CEM-70 with a Stellarvue 102T would be nice, combined with the 2600 camera.
you will be at about 714mm (unreduced)  and thats a useful focal length for many targets.

as for the 130mm APO on an EQ6R, I know people do this, but you might be under Mounted.
its not just the weight Payload, as the EQ6 is 20KG rated, but more about how the Mount works (guiding RMS) at longer focal length.

I would choose the CEM-70, which  should be the superior mount, in terms of tracking and also payload. 

Hope this is helpful.
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andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
YingtianZZZ:
Thanks for everyone's suggestion! Newtonian is also the most economy-efficient scope, my only concern is 1. it only supports aps-c and 2. will it keep collimation?

The newtonian will be a Skywatcher-200mm and I'll upgrade its focuser / secondary mirror mount, and will pair with sharpstar-0.95x or similar coma corrector.

*That very much depends on the scope's make and SWs do not shine on the side of reliability and mechanical precision. In short I'd avoid them like hell and other options exists. The right newtonian will support FF cameras with the right focuser and coma corrector. So 3" (or 2.5" at minimum)  focuser and the right CC to go with it.
Tony Gondola avatar
Tony Gondola avatar
YingtianZZZ:
Thanks for everyone's suggestion! Newtonian is also the most economy-efficient scope, my only concern is 1. it only supports aps-c and 2. will it keep collimation?

The newtonian will be a Skywatcher-200mm and I'll upgrade its focuser / secondary mirror mount, and will pair with sharpstar-0.95x or similar coma corrector.

If the Newtonian has a decently designed primary cell with locks it will hold its collimation. Even if you are at F4 with won't be as fussy as an SCT.
Brent Bowen avatar
Brent Bowen avatar
I've got a remote observatory with two scopes mounted side-by-side on a 10Micron GM2000 mount which holds a max of 110lbs - my gear is about 108lbs.

• Celestron 11" (F10)  |  ASI2600  |  FoV = 0.48° x 0.32°
• Sky Watcher 120mm (F7)  |  ASI6200  |  FoV = 2.46° x 1.64°

I find the images from the 120mm are a bit more satisfying - there's more detail, wider field of view, etc.

The 11" is tougher to get great images, and its somewhat limiting on what can be imaged. 

My plan is to keep the side-by-side setup for a few years, then replace it with my 14" to image planets & small objects for a while. So, keep that in mind, you can try one scope for a few years, then swap it for the other one. 

I didn't really answer your question, but I hope this helps some. Best of luck!!
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John Hayes avatar
John Hayes avatar
I agree that you first need to decide on the field of view that you want.  Then configure the system to try it out at home.  Run it remotely in your back yard for at least a month before sending it to a remote site.  I cannot over emphasize how important it is to make sure that whatever you send to a remote site is very carefully configured and tested.  If it doesn't work in your back yard, it will never "magically" work remotely.

John
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YingtianZZZ avatar
YingtianZZZ avatar
The poll is much different than half day ago… I think new voters all chose 130apo+6200mm, compared with 8'' Newts+2600mm which is fast, anyone would explain why this is best?
Gleb Polyakov avatar
Gleb Polyakov avatar
One data point to consider is that you can run the 6200MM in APS-C crop mode.

To me that makes it the obvious choice, budget not withstanding, because you get the option of wider FOV when you need it, and smaller file sizes when you don't.
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Daniel Cimbora avatar
Daniel Cimbora avatar
Yingtian,

I voted 130 apo / 6200 for the stability of the imaging train and the wide field captured by the large sensor.  This is what I have at my remote installation in New Mexico and I am quite pleased with the results.

I am really impressed with the images in your gallery, most of which appear to have taken from a balcony in State College. 

I suggest that with your talent and committment, the choice you make for your first remote installation will not be your last, so don't sweat the details too much.  All of the remote rigs you suggest will produce great results in your hands and will serve as a learning experience for your eventual upgrade decisions.

Keep up the great work!

Dan
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David Russell avatar
David Russell avatar
I see one of your options in the poll is for an RC8.

I believe its generally accepted that an RC10 is superior to an RC8, with a decoupled focuser making collimation much easier.

if you had the RC10 option I would have clicked on that, over the 130mm APO, or Newtonian option.

I have one myself and its an excellent imaging scope.
JohnAdastra avatar
JohnAdastra avatar
You have quite a few choices, so I'll trying to share from experience since my group just started with a remote 16" RC and a 6200MM - with some troubles. Firstly I would choose optics that are not open or are hard to keep collimated > so I would cross RCs and Newts off the list. Your refractors will be the most stable and easiest to maintain from that standpoint, and SCTs after that. Open optics also collect dust and spiderwebs and are not easily maintained from afar.  If your system requires more human intervention, that could relate to higher service costs.

Beware that the 6200 will generate much larger files than the 2600 and will require more storage capacity and more time to transfer over the internet. So think about faster PCs and more disc space for the former. We generated almost 4T of files over the last 4 weeks.

Longer focal lengths let you drill down into the universe more and greatly increase your target list. But the greater the FL, the more mount you'll need for stable guiding. Better to have the most mount you can afford. But faster optics and longer FLs also need precise focusing, not just a ZWO EAF attached to a knob. Seek out the best focuser within your budget, and think about replacing the stock focuser on your refractors or SCT with the best available.

Good luck with your decision and enjoy.

John
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