Hi, I'm getting a telescope for the first time (an Orion StarMax 102) and it is coming with a german equatorial mount [em-8] and a celestron motor autoguide. I'm very much interested in doing astrophotography with it but where I've never owned a telescope before I'm not sure how to get it lined up so the motor drive will track properly. I've looked at a website online and it seemed rather complex in the way they worded it. I'm also not quite sure about how to take pictures with my camera. I currently own an olympus om-10 and an olympus E-300 digital camera and can get a t ring for it so I can connect them to the scope but i'm not sure about focussing. again I found a website but it seemed rather complex. I'm thinking I should use my om-10 as the exposure times are quite long and so the noise on the digital camera would be out of this world. Any ideas for a newby to astrophotography. There are two aspects to aligning a German equatorial mount (GEM): setting the mount for your latitude, and then aligning the polar axis with the north celestial pole. The mount itself should come with instructions on how to do this properly.
Essentially, there will be screws or bolts (often called, appropriately enough, "latitude adjustment bolts") that you loosen in order to match the "tilt" of the polar axis of the mount to your latitude. After that, there will be other adjustment screws or bolts that allow you to rotate the mount on its tripod in small increments so that the polar axis of the mount is pointing precisely at the north celestial pole. Good polar alignment is essential for long-exposure astrophotography. There are many websites that have detailed instructions on polar alignment. A good explanation can be found at http://www.themcdonalds.net/richard/astr...
As for astrophotography in general, I would recommend the forums at http://www.cloudynights.com. There are many very experienced astrophotographers there who would be glad to lend assistance. The major thing to worry about is that the camera will be so heavy that it will throw off the telescope tracking. I had that problem with my OM1 and my 4.5" Meade. Counterweights are the solution.
The telescope will come with alignment instructions, but basically the telescope axis has to be pointed north and set to your latitude (I'm assuming this is an equatorial scope as opposed to alt-az since you're talking about tracking).
You don't have to worry about focusing with the scope - you're not using an eyepiece. Just attach it to the eyepiece holder with the t-ring (you may need an additional adapter) and open the shutter - you'll be fine.
Many digital cameras are now pretty good for astrophotography - canon makes several. They will take dark frames as well as light frames to reduce the noise.
Good luck! You may want to invest (it's cheap) in one of those things that lets you operate the shutter from a distance - I forget what it's called, it's a long wire with a plunger and it attaches to the button on the camera. It's to reduce the vibrations when you open the shutter. | 