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I really appreciate the flurry of comments and welcomes to the forum. I've been spending much of the day (as much time as my 3 yr old son allows me to anyways) on the site reading. Lots of great information here. Much more than can be absorbed today! I'm going to enjoy reading through this site.

If this monochrome CCD imager that I mentioned at the beginning of the thread is sharper or better quality than the color one mentioned, then I think I'd likely lean towards spending a little bit more on the monochrome and choose to buy the color filters later.

I plan on starting with the near-by neighbor, the moon and do some imaging there, then work my way to other objects in our sky.

I'm not sure that I'd want to spend much more than 400 bucks on this.

And thanks for recommending the beginning imaging threads! I'll see if I can find them.

If anyone is familiar with the software that comes with this Meade DSI Pro, and if it can control my older LX200 to goto objects in its database, I'd love to know.

Thanks for all your continued comments! You're a very friendly and helpful group.

Thomas

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That's the route I went...monochrome CCD (DSI Pro II) and I recently got a used set of HaRGB filters. CCD imaging is not at all like point and shoot. To get good data, you need to properly polar align, have a mount that tracks well, take various calibration frames, and have good seeing conditions. All that said...it only gets you part of the way there. Once you have images, you need to process them - that's a whole new endeavor.

It's definitely a fun pursuit but plan on investing some time in imaging. As you mentioned, knock around in the Beginning Imaging and CCD forums, they have a wealth of information.

Also, a very good resource for "hands on" learning would be to hook up with a local astronomy club - do a search for one on the internet if you don't already know of any. Chances are that some of the members will be imaging guys and can really help you out.

Good Luck and have a great time!

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Orion 120 Refractor
Orion SkyviewPro Mount, Single Axis Drive
Losmandy G11 Mount, Non-Gemini
TEC 140 APO #300
Meade DSI Pro II Monochrome

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