using two different setups with different resolutions

Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Askar SQA55 ToupTek ATR2600M ZWO ASI533MC
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Alex Penzias avatar
Alex Penzias avatar

Hi to everyone,

there is a lot to read about it and I still have a lot of research to do on my own here, but I would still like to ask this question to our lovely community.

I am currently using an upgraded SW 150 pds with a newly installed Touptek ATR2600m with filter wheel on a Proxisky UMi 20s. I am really happy with this setup now but due to my limited fov at home I can only image the western part of the sky. My maximum imaging time for an object per night is approx. three hours when it becomes visible to me until it sets behind the building opposite of me.

Now I am beginning to ask myself the question, if I could mount an Askar SQA55 with my trusted 533mc onto my SW 150 pds and use both setups in tandem, weightwise this should be no problem for the mount. The fov of both setups, SQA55+533mc and 150pds+ATR2600m, is actually somewhat similar, however the resolution is different due to the different focal lengths of the scopes - 2,94”/pixel vs 1,03”/pixel.

Would it make sense to use the SQA55+533mc for the RGB part of the image and to use the 150pds+ATR2600m for luminance (and/or Ha where possible) data? Would the lum image at a resolution of 1,03”/pixel bring the desired and current level of detail or would I be losing details in the image due to the RGB image having a resolution of 2,94”/pixel? The hope is that this would work and I could “double” my imaging time from my imaging location without having to make any larger changes.

Clear Skies to you all, I hope your local weather is better than mine here,

Alex

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Rick Krejci avatar
Rick Krejci avatar

It should work OK as long as you don’t have 2 setups with diffraction spikes, which you don’t. I did this quite a bit, but with FF and APSC on differing focal lengths and it works great with the longer focal length as luminance and shorter as chrominance. Here’s one I did like that: https://app.astrobin.com/u/Ricksastro?i=4a8kl2

For some targets, where Oiii isn’t very detailed, I’ve even done SHO, with SH from the longer focal length and Oiii from the shorter. Like these:

https://app.astrobin.com/u/Ricksastro?i=cjvmsx

https://app.astrobin.com/u/Ricksastro?i=89drnr

I use Nina, which allows running a session for each scope/camera on one PC and has synchronization features built-in, particularly dithering. Don’t think you can do that with ASIAirs.

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andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar

Diffraction spikes won’t have their specific colours and so the halos but otherwise it should work.

Alex Penzias avatar
Alex Penzias avatar

Thank you to both of you for your replies! I guess this’ll be my next project then. Due to the limited amount of time I can image this would make the available time more effective. And I have another way to continue to make my wallet cry!

@Rick Krejci thank you for showing me some of your images taken in this way. They look amazing!

Clear Skies to you,

Alex

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