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Rooisand´s portable
equipment
Towards the
end of 2004 we started with an Atlux GoTo mount, a C8, a 10" Dobson and a 5"
binocular. At the request of our astronomer guests we substantially expanded
our portable equipment in 2007.
After several delays we were finally
able to take delivery of an eagerly awaited container from Germany in July
2007. Its contents, among other things: the astronomy equipment.
As
soon as the shipment was duly cleared by customs our astro-technical staff set
out to mount it. |
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available: a Vixen GP and a Celestron Advanced GT. There is also an azimuthal
Baader BP 60 for small telescopes or heavy binoculars. The mounts are
complemented by a multitude of portable and guidance telescopes, from a
Celestron C11 to a Richfield refractor with its short focal length. In addition
we offer an extensive array of accessories for the portable telescopes,
including a complete set of Baader 2" Hyperion eyepieces, prisms and reticule
eyepieces. The variety of mounting possibilities for portable telescopes is
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considerable. This brief
account is merely intended to give you an idea of the many possible
combinations.For detailed information
please refer to the pdf files which you can download at the bottom of this page or at our download - site (there are many other pdf files as
well, e.g. hints for setting up equipment and brief
instructions).
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The
portable mounts are equipped with different mounting disks. However, the
various possibilities for mounting are all based on the
Baader Planetarium Prism System Type V, which allows you to
combine (almost) anything with everything else. Your own equipment is
immediately and easily adaptable if it is mounted on a Baader prism groove
model V (prism width 44 mm, Celestron, Vixen, Zeiss, Synta,
Sky Watcher etc).
Since an
in-depth description would go beyond the scope of this space we have grouped
the portable equipment into four pdf-files with plenty
of pictures. |
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The
Atlux mount with its SkySensor 2000 GoTo control system is suitable, for
example, for the C8 (or smaller optics). The optics can then be used as a
guiding telescope for heavy telephoto lenses or smaller, high-speed Richfield
telescopes.
Our own C11 can also be used as an optional add-on to the
Atlux. Furthermore it is possible to mount miniature cameras and moderate
telephoto lenses. |
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The
combination of C11 and Atlux mount, for example, is the best possible
configuration for taking webcam pictures of the moon and the
planets.
But your own telescopes or combinations of telescopes, up to
about 20 kg in total, can be mounted as well. |
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A
mounted rigid camera ball head is also available to carry the heaviest
telephoto lenses. In this combination various telescopes (whether C8 or
refractor) can be used as an additional guiding telescope.
The sides of
all the mounting disks are adjustable so that any telescope/photo combination
can be steadied.
A pdf-file with assembly instructions and a brief general
description of the Atlux mount can be downloaded here. |
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Furthermore we can now offer another two small mounts: a Celestron
Advanced GoTo and a Vixen DX.
Both mounts are mainly intended for
photography. We offer guiding telescopes from 90 to 150 mm as well as
accessories; cameras and telephoto lenses can again be fitted to mounting discs
and the Baader prism system type V. |
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Vixen 125 mm binocular telescope with
...
the capacity to focus 319 times more light than the naked
eye. This telescope is equipped with 45° angle view, BK-7 prisms,
multi-coated optics and a red LED Telrad finder.
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10 inch f:4.8 Dobson telescope
...
with excellent optical reproduction (Strehl 0.98) and
negligible obstruction. The optics have 1/8 PV Wavefront and Hilux coating. A
laser based collimator with instructions is available if the mirror needs to be
adjusted.
A complete set of BAADER Hyperion 2" eyepieces is available
for the Dobson. |
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The Dobson
as well as the 125 mm binocular telescope is extremely well suited for the
visual observation of objects in the southern Milky Way, the Magellan Clouds,
etc.
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Vixen field glasses Ultima 8 x 56
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in addition we have an ordinary field glass with a 6.1
degree range of vision, 21.2 light gathering power and a minimum focal length
of 11 metres.
 top of page |
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Locations for portable
telescopes
We offer
three different locations for setting up portable telescopes:
- right next to the dome
instrument,
- on the main grounds of the
farm and
- in the vicinity of our
camping site
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Directly below the observatory tower we have constructed two even
concrete platforms of about 16 m² each for setting up portable telescopes.
If need be, you are of course welcome to set up your own telescopes as
well.
Right next to the platforms there is a sufficient number of
sockets for a 220 Volt power supply, protected by fault detection safety
devices. Tables and chairs are also available in large numbers. |
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Each of
the platforms bears a sturdy, non-vibrating steel column to carry the Atlux
mount and optionally the AD-GT or Vixen mount. All three of the mounts are
finely adjusted at the celestial pole. There are markings on the steel columns
for the azimuthal alignment so that in no time the mount, after being placed on
the column in question, is set up with a few last corrections in the azimuth
and the mount is adjusted for astrophotography.
Existing mounts can also be set up on tripods, of
course!
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During summer 2007 we also constructed an observation platform in the
vicinity of the guest rooms on the main farm grounds. It is intended for the
use of guests who only want to make occasional observations or who are on
holiday with their family.
This platform also bears two columns to carry
the Atlux mount and optionally the AD-GT or Vixen mount, and again the columns
show markings where the already adjusted mounts have to be placed. Naturally,
sockets, tables and chairs are available, too. |
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Since 2007 we can also offer an observation platform to
astronomically interested guests who prefer to spend the night on our camping
site. The platform is a walk of about seven minutes away from the camping site.
It goes without saying that there is a 220 Volt power supply so that
the smaller ones of our portable mounts can be operated on tripods. |
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Plaese note, that the following pdf-files are actually
only available in german language. But they include a lot of images which may
help you. We are sorry for that inconvenience.
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Portable mounts, piers, tripods and
Locations (including informations about the mounting plates, the
Baader prism system and the drive systems for the mounts), pdf-file (500
Kb) |
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Portable Telescopes and their accessories, pdf-file (400
Kb) |
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Graphical overview of all possibilities to combine mounts,
telescopes and piers, pdf-file (100 Kb) |
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Brief
description about the Baader Hyperion oculars, pdf-file (400
Kb) |
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Description of
pier mounting the Atlux and to do last correction in azimuth, pdf-file (760
Kb) |
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Description of pier mounting the Vixen and Celestron AD-GT and
to do last correction in azimuth, pdf-file 550 Kb) |
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Additonal Portable
Telescopes
