I am currently doing photometry using my main rig, but I wish to do slitless spectroscopy with a SA 100 simultaneously. The second rig is an f5, 130 mm Newtonian. I am leaning towards a mono 585 or mono 533. The 533 have larger field of view, are 14 bit instead of a 12 bit ADC, and have a larger full well depth, (maybe not according to the info on the Player One 585). The 533 (3.76 micron pixels) with this scope has a resolution of 1.19" per pixel while a 585 (2.9 microns) has a resolution of 0.92" per pixel.
My average seeing tends to be 3 to 4", though less than 3" occurs at times. The Newtonian is on an HEQ5 mount where I usually have an average RMS = 0.6" guiding.
The 585 sensors are supposed to have a higher quantum efficiency and an extended sensitivity into the infrared.
If this was for photometry only, then I would go with a 533 sensor, but I have no experience at spectroscopy. So do the smaller pixels and extended IR sensitivity win out over the larger full well and larger FOV of the 533? The 585 is much less expensive but I am willing to pay for the 533 if it offers significantly more capability.
Hi. Thanks Jim. I appreciate your response. I already have the SA 100. I bought it years ago, used it once and got distracted by a health issue (all is well now) and it has sat in a drawer since. Time to get it going. I have looked at and played with the numbers in the calculator. I think I need to actually do some imaging to see what would be appropriate for what I am trying to do.
I am a member of the Red Dwarf Group monitoring Red Dwarf flare stars. I am hoping to do simultaneous spectroscopy with one rig while doing photometry with the other. The forecast for tonight is clear with average transparency and above average seeing. This is the first night like thois in months, so I am excited to give this a whirl tonight.
Thanks again,
Rick
Thanks for the response Ken. I have a QHY533M that I have been using for photometry, and yes, it is, a good camera. I am encouraged to hear you are getting good results. I did see Buil’s post. It is interesting and has me leaning in the favour of the 585 for the second rig.
Thanks,
Rick
Yes, I’ve had an SA-100 for several years as well… Two sets of good filters BVRI, UBVRI. One day I’ll have to sell them or give them to someone and a couple or three OTAs too.
Since the state of Virginia says I can’t set my telescope up at a nearby wildlife management area I’m reduced to wide-angle lenses and DSLR shots of bright objects from my deck. Even that is getting worse as more people turn lights on 24/7 in their backyards.
Anyway no way to know if you had played with the numbers…