Eric Ng - equipment

The high resolution imaging setup on my roof!

This 10" Newtonian has been installed on my home's roof since Dec 2002. I share the telescope with my friend Dennis Pang. This 10" telescope is the highest quality instrument that I have owned. The primary mirror was ordered from

R.F. Royce - Precision Optical Components.

Many thanks to Bob Royce for his excellent 10" and he produced what he guarantees in his website according to the optical quality description (Strehl Ratio: > 0.96). Under good seeing, I normally use 833X for viewing Saturn. The image looks rock solid without any image break down or detail loss. I am totally satisfied with it. In order to achieve better results, I 've placed an order for a 12.5", F6 mirror which will be delivered in mid March. I believe the coming 12.5" will perform even better! As the New Atlux mount may not be rigid enough for such big instrument, I will install the 12.5" on the Gemini 40 instead!

Here is the configuration:

Primary mirror: Precision Optical Components 10" F6 mirror

Secondary mirror and mount: Protostar Quartz 1.83"

Focuser: JMI NGF-MN2 motor focuser

Mirror Cell: University Optics mirror cell for 10"

Tube: Kindly made by my friend Mr. Lee Chi Fai from Macau

Total weight: 40 lbs

The Vixen New Atlux mount I am using is temporarily borrowed from my friend Alan Chu (heheh. All astro friends are nice!!!) . Surprisingly, the Atlux mount supports the 10" Newtonian very rigidly (at least good enough for my high resolution work). Unfortunately my building is old ,vibrations from the floor greatly affect my imaging! To tackle this problem, I use the Celestron Vibration Suppression Pad, this converts the high frequency vibration into the low frequency type. It allows the webcam to freeze the sharp frames.

The webcam I use for imaging is the Philips ToUcam Pro. I connect it to the JMI moto focuser with the Mogg adaptor. The adaptor is cheap (US$20) but very nicely made. In my opinion, it is an essential accessory for webcam imaging. Once you decide to start webcam imaging, I strongly suggest you to order one unless you can make it yourself easily.

The attached photos are the view as seen from my roof. Some high-rise buildings block the sky. Normally for Jupiter, I need to wait until it rises above 50 degree from the horizon. As for Mars, I have no hope of capturing it untill May as there are two buildings completely blocking the south-eastern sky.

Half of my roof is being utilised as an ATM workshop. Chaotic huh?

Equipment List:

25" F5 Dobsonian (owned with others) (Nova-Optical primary mirror)
16" F4.5 Dobsonian (Meade mirror)
12.5" F6 Newtonian (pending delivery)
10" F6 Newtonian (sold)
10" F6 Dobsonian (Home-made mirror)
8" F5 Dobsonian (Home-made mirror)
Celestron C8 Schmidt Cassegrain
6" MK-63 Maksutov
4" Aspheric Optics F10 refractor
Celestron C90 Spotting SCope
8cm Kasai F8.8 refractor
Mizar New AR EQ mount
Gemini 40 EQ mount