I im using since  the Summer of  1999 the Meade LX200 12" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope as the basic observing and photographic instrument. I haven't any permanent site where to observe and therfore i am taken it on dark sites about once at a month together with the guys from local group of amateur astronomers . I use the giant tripod and the telescope in altazimuth mode  when i plan just an observe season and I use the super wedge only when i want to make any astrophotography or CCD imaging . 

For weight balancing I use a 2D Weight balance system i bought from Chris Heappy in England. It is a complex counter weight system with upper and lower dovetail bars and camera brackets. It is   capable to balance almost any accessory combination.

For wide field photography I use the Sigma 170-500 f6.3 Lens fitted on the Nikon F3 camera body also I use some other Nikon lenses like the 50mm F1.4 and Nikon 28-105.

For guiding in prime focus astrophotography I use the Lumicon Giant Easy Guider or alternative the Celestron Radial Guider together with OLYMPUS OM-1 and Vary Magnifier.

I am taking pictures most of the times manual guiding but when i need autoguiding I am using the Meade 216 XT for autoguider.

For visual observing i am using the follow set of eyepieces:

TeleVue 35mm PANOPTIC 

TeleVue 22mm Nagler type 4 

TeleVue 12mm Nagler type 4 

Celestron ultima 30mm , Ultima 26 mm 

Meade Series 4000 Super Possls 26mm ,15mm ,9.7mm  

Orion Lanthunum 7.5mm 

Also I enjoy very much the wide area scaning using the ORION 16 X 80 binoculars. 

Finally some times i use The Sky software on my Laptop to control the telescope.

Other various accessories: 

Filters : Orion Ultrablock and Meade broadband both rear cell fitted, and  to improve planetary viewing I use the Meade blue , yellow and  red filters.

additional I use the Televue 2" Everbright 2" Diagonal.

Meade Vary Eyepiece projection just to take some planets photographs.

LX200 12" Telescope set for astrophotography

Details on upper dovetail bar

with telephoto

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Last edit: 01.18.2001 .