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Off-Axis Guiders & Flip Mirrors

Shown with reticle eyepiece and camera attached.
Reticle Eyepiece not included.

Meade #777 Off-Axis Guider for SCT Telescopes

   During long-exposure astrophotography it is essential that the photographer (a) be able to observe when the telescope starts to wander slightly off-target, and (b) be able to make small corrections to the telescope's position to bring the instrument back precisely on-target. The Meade #777 Off-Axis Guider solves the first of these requirements; namely, it permits the observer to monitor an exposure simultaneously as the photograph is being taken. (Drive correctors solve the second requirement.) The Off-Axis Guider is similar in function to the #62 T-Adapter in that it couples the camera body to the telescope for prime focus photography, but with an important difference: a small part of the light at the edge of the telescopic field is diverted at a 90° angle to the unit, where it is observed on the crosslines of an illuminated reticle eyepiece to detect any change of position. The #777 Off-Axis Guider has been used in this way countless times to obtain very high quality long-exposure photographs of deep-space objects. The guider unit threads to the rear cell of all Meade LX-Series mirror-lens telescopes, to Model 203SC/ 500, and to other brands of Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. Use with the appropriate T-Mount, ordered separately, for your camera brand.

Meade #644 Flip-Mirror System

   Accepts any 1.25" eyepiece. Mirror clear aperture: 22mm. Use with Meade Pictor 208XT, 216XT, or 416XT, or ST-4 through ST-7 or other similar-size CCD's; or for visual observing with 1.25" eyepieces.

Meade #647 Flip-Mirror System

   Includes 2" eyepiece-holder and 1.25" eyepiece adapter permitting use of either 1.25" or 2" eyepieces. Mirror clear aperture: 40mm. Recommended for full-field 35mm astrophotography or for CCD imagers of any chip dimensions, including all Meade Pictor Series through 1616XT, or ST-4 through ST-8; or for visual applications with 1.25" or 2" eyepieces.

Celestron Radial Guider

   Specifically for use in prime focus, deep-sky imaging or astrophotography with Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, the Radial Guider is compact and sleek in design. This accessory makes it possible to simultaneously photograph and guide through the optical tube assembly of your telescope. The Radial Guider also eliminates the problem of differential flexure, because you're both guiding and photographing through the telescope. The Radial Guider is compatible with Celestron's C5, C8, C9¼, C11 and C14 telescopes and comes with a unique prism angle adjustment screw. It must be used with a guiding eyepiece, camera T-Ring and drive corrector (dual axis preferred). Primarily for use with catadioptric telescopes, but also works on refractor telescopes having adequate back focus. This guider is a tremendous improvement over conventional off-axis guiders. Not only is the angle of the prism tunable, but it also maintains a fixed rigid camera orientation while still offering users the freedom to move the guiding eyepiece radially about 135°.

ScopeTronix T to 1.25" Eyepiece Port Adapter

   This adapter is great for attaching a CCD camera with a 1.25" eyepiece barrel to the back of a flip-mirror or off-axis guider.

ScopeTronix Parfocalizing Rings

   These extremely useful rings have always been difficult to find, now we have them in stock in 2 sizes! Parfocalizing rings are used for several purposes. If you would like to make your non-parfocal eyepiece set parfocal you can put one of these rings on each eyepiece and adjust the height so that all eyepieces are at the same focus point, now when you swap eyepieces you won't need to refocus every time! They are also extremely useful when used with a flip mirror (like the one built into the ETX) for photography. To use a parfocalizing ring with a flip mirror you would first use the telescope focus knob to put your attached camera in perfect focus, now slide a ring over the eyepiece of choice and raise and lower the eyepiece in the holder until it is perfectly in focus. Once you find the focus point that is perfectly matched to the camera slip the ring down and lock it in place using the included wrench. Now you can focus using the eyepiece (much easier than a dim focus screen) and just flip the mirror and take a picture! Leave the ring in place on the eyepiece and you can always quickly and easily pop it back in for photography.