Alpha’s Gear Wall: Active Setups, Retired Friends & Fun Stories

Welcome! This thread is the canonical index and changelog for my gear overview. The corresponding image post is here (with photos): https://app.astrobin.com/i/xbglu0

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    Active

    1. Rig A — FSQ-106EDX III (Chile • Widefield, Active)

       1. Optics: FSQ-106EDX III, native 530 mm f/5; with 645 Reducer RD 0.72× → ~382 mm f/3.6 (large image circle)

       2. Camera: Moravian G4-16000 Mk I (KAF-16803, 9 µm)

          • Pixel scale (Bin1): ~3.50″/px (530 mm); ~4.87″/px (382 mm)

       3. Mount: 10Micron GM2000 HPS, encoder mount with model-based unguided long exposures (Mount comes from Mr. Andrew Read)

       4. Filters: Astrodon Gen2 LRGB + Hα/SII/OIII

       5. Why this rig: Fast, flat, wide coverage for giant H II complexes and SNR shells; ideal for deep, multi-night integrations and mosaics.

    2. Rig B — SkyRover 180 APO Pro + SkyEye 62AM (Daocheng, Active)

       1. Optics: SkyRover 180 mm APO Pro (well-corrected, large illuminated field for full-frame)

       2. Camera: ToupTek SkyEye 62AM (Sony IMX455 mono, 62 MP, 3.76 μm)

       3. Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ8-Rh Pro

       4. Filters: Chroma LRGB + Chroma 3 nm Hα / SII / OIII

       5. Site: Daocheng Observatory, Sichuan (high altitude, dark sky, stable seeing/clarity)

       6. Why this rig: full-frame mono + 180 APO provides crisp, expansive FOVs for large nebulae and nearby galaxies; mixed LRGB+NB workflows are consistent and efficient here.

    3. Rig C — Canon EF 400/2.8L II + ASI6200MM Pro (Daocheng, Active)

       1. • Optics: 400 mm f/2.8 lens; ultra-fast for wide/medium fields

       2. • Camera: ASI6200MM Pro (3.76 μm), pixel scale ≈ 1.94″/px

       3. • Mount: Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 GT

       4. • Filters: Chroma LRGB + Chroma 3 nm Hα/SII/OIII

       5. Site: Daocheng Observatory, Sichuan (high altitude, dark sky, stable seeing/clarity)

       6. • Why this rig: High-throughput wide coverage for emission/reflection complexes, IFN and SNR shells; great base for ultra-wide mosaics

    4. Rig D — Sigma 180/2.8 + SBIG 11K (Active Ultra-Wide)

       1. • Optics: 180 mm f/2.8 lens for ultra-wide coverage

       2. • Camera: SBIG 11K (KAI-11002; pixel scale ≈ 10.3″/px)

       3. • Mount: iOptron CEM25EC (EC encoders; practical unguided imaging)

       4. • Filters: Optolong RGB + Hα / OIII (RGBHO)

       5. • Why this rig: High-throughput platform for Northern-sky mosaics, H II complexes, IFN and dust lanes

    5. Rig E — DSI RC14 (14.25", f/7, FL 2570 mm; Maintenance / Upgrading)

       1. • Optics (OTA): DSI RC14, Ritchey-Chrétien, aperture 14.25", f/7, FL ≈ 2570 mm

       2. • Camera (upgrading): Moravian G4-16000 (KAF-16803, 9 µm) — Pixel scale: ≈ 0.72″/px @ 2570 mm

       3. • Mount (upgrading): Astro-Physics 1100GTO → ASA DDM85A (direct-drive, absolute encoders)

       4. • Filters (upgrading): Astrodon LRGB + 5 nm Hα / SII / OIII (50 mm)

       5. • Site: Previously DSNM (USA) → relocating (TBA)

       6. • Ownership / Ops: Owned; previously operated by the Noctua group

       7. • Typical targets: Small/medium galaxies, reflection/compact emission nebulae, planetary nebulae, high-resolution LRGB/HSO

       8. • Pros: Long-FL RC for fine structural detail; large 16803 sensor ideal for deep LRGB/HSO; DDM85A offers gearless, sub-arcsecond tracking

       9. • Limits: Demands precise collimation, tilt/backfocus control; resolution often seeing-limited at 0.32″/px

       10. • Why this combo: Dedicated high-resolution platform for galaxies/PN with robust imaging depth

       11. • Field notes: DSNM operation revealed persistent collimation challenges; decision taken to relocate and upgrade mount/camera/filters for stability

    Retired / Previous

  • AG Optical iDK 10″ f/6.7 — Yunnan Lijiang Gemini Observatory — Status: Retired

    1. • Optics (OTA): AG Optical iDK 10″ (f/6.7; FL ≈ 1655 mm)

    2. Camera: ZWO ASI6200MM Pro (3.76 μm) — Pixel scale: ≈ 0.469″/px @ 1655 mm

    3. • Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ8-RH

    4. • Filters: Astrodon Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance LRGB; Hα/SII/OIII 5 nm (HSO)

    5. • Site: Yunnan, China — Shuangzi (Gemini) Observatory

    6. • Ownership: Owned (primary OTA sold; rig decommissioned)

    7. • Typical targets: Small/medium galaxies, reflection nebulae, compact emission structures, high-res star fields

    8. • Pros: Corrected DK at long focal length; fine sampling with 6200MM; EQ8-RH high-res encoder RA axis for precise tracking

    9. • Limits: Seeing-limited resolution at 0.47″/px; site sky condition get worse.

    10. • Why this combo: High-resolution LRGB/HSO platform for galaxies and detailed nebula cores

  • SkyRover 130 SA f/5 (FL 650 mm) — Daocheng Astronomical Observatory — Status: Retired

    • Optics (OTA): SkyRover 130 SA, 130 mm f/5 astrograph (FL ≈ 650 mm)
    • Camera: ZWO ASI6200MM Pro (3.76 μm) — Pixel scale: ≈ 1.19″/px @ 650 mm
    • Mount: Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 GT
    • Filters: Chroma LRGB 50 mm; Chroma 3 nm Hα/SII/OIII 50 mm
    • Site: Daocheng Observatory, Sichuan, China (Bortle ~2)
    • Ownership: Owned (rig decommissioned; mirror upgraded)
    • Typical targets: IFN and dust complexes, large SNR shells, extended emission/reflection nebulae, wide-field mosaics
    • Pros: Wide, flat field at f/5; excellent with full-frame mono; fast and efficient for LRGB+NB mixes and mosaics
    • Limits: Resolution limited by 650 mm FL for very small galaxies;
    • Why this combo: Balanced speed + field for dust/SNR structures at a dark site
    • Why I moved on: Upgraded to a larger-aperture system; this rig’s FL is slightly shorter than needed for my newer projects

• Changelog

  • 2025-09-25— Posted initial index;

  Notes on transparency

Clear skies — Alpha