Want to do astrophotography?!?.....yes....so what is the most valuable piece of equipment that an astrophotographer has to buy???......a perfect tracking mount!!!
...but a perfect tracking mount costs you several thousands euro....
...you have an EQ6 that is tracking well, not exceptionally well but is reasonable good....
Looking at the astronomical mount market, it seems that some producer (10Micron, AP, Ioptron...) are starting to use high resolution encorders to give their mount an exceptionally good RA tracking that cancel out PE.....
....with those mount you don't have to guide......you don't need a guide scope....only 1 camera and you
can get good unguided image of the night skies....
...10Micron has a dual tracking mode that permits up to 1/2 hour exposure unguided.....
And your EQ6......can you update your mount with something that can give you the possibility to do unguided long exposure imaging with mid-long focal length?
....yYESss......there is TDM or telescope drive master.....
I bought one and when installed it gives me great results!!!....
The following image show you what is my mount's periodic error....PE with TDM turned off and then when TDM has been turned ON......no more PE!!!!....
(click to enlarge)
It costs....yes it is not the cheaper astronomical addition to your gear....but it works well....
Now my EQ6 can get long unguided exposure.....I have only to carefully align it to the pole....
