A while ago I bought two second hand harmonic drives off eBay for a lot less than brand new ones, my intention was to build an EQ mount in the style of the
CRUX170HD
. I didn't go ahead with it.
My new plan is to actually build a fork mount, maybe a single arm one, using the two mentioned drives. And it is going to be quite compact...
The list of bits and bobs I'm planning to use/build.
I'll be using a camera lens I bought for wide-field astrophotography, a manual Canon 200mm f2.8 (again off eBay, mint condition at a bargain price)
For the actual camera, I'm leaning towards either a ZWO ASI 183MM or a ZWO ASI 174MM (both mono).
A simple filter drawer as there is no need for many filters, just something like this one
Astrodon ExoPlanet-BB
The enclosure will be similar to my current one (in terms of build) but in a much much smaller size (ie: ultra compact).
Same electronics, Odroid powered, the new one maybe Odroid-n2 which has 4x USB3.
OnStep controller.
Now on the software side, the all lot will have to be 100% scripted INDI, ie: running from command line.
From moving the mount, taking pictures, stacking etc...
There isn't a need for auto-guiding from what I'm reading, and with the CMOS cameras short exposure is key.
You basically take hundreds of pictures over a period of time that could be 5 or 6 hours...
The Exoplanet Transit Database is available at:
var2.astro.cz/EN/index.php
I have no ETA for this project.