Equipment

MarsChapel Observatory has several complementary telescope systems, each suited to a different kind of observing and imaging—from wide-field nebulae to smaller deep-sky objects, the Sun and the changing night sky.

10-inch Newtonian Telescope

The observatory’s main telescope is a 250 mm Sky-Watcher Quattro Newtonian. Its large aperture and adaptable optical arrangement allow it to be configured for deep-sky imaging, planetary imaging or visual observing.

Telescope and mount

  • Telescope: Sky-Watcher Quattro 250P — 250 mm aperture, 1,000 mm focal length, f/4 Newtonian astrograph
  • Mount: Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 GT — a computer-controlled mount capable of equatorial and alt-azimuth operation
  • Location: Housed in the observatory shed beneath its removable roof

Deep-sky imaging

For deep-sky imaging, the telescope operates in equatorial mode as a guided, computer-controlled system suitable for long-exposure imaging.

  • Imaging camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro cooled colour camera
  • Optical correction: Sky-Watcher f/4 Aplanatic Super Coma Corrector
  • Guiding: ZWO ASI120MM Mini monochrome guide camera with a separate guide-scope
  • Filter wheel: ZWO 2-inch EFW, five-position electronic filter wheel
  • Filters: 2-inch IR-cut and dual-band Hα/OIII filters
  • Focusing: PrimaLuceLab SESTO SENSO 2 electronic focusing motor
  • Control: Mini PC running NINA
  • Dew control: Dew heater

Planetary imaging

For planetary imaging, the telescope’s 250 mm aperture provides the resolution and light-gathering power needed to capture fine detail using short, high-frame-rate video sequences.

  • Planetary camera: ZWO ASI385MC Colour CMOS Camera
  • Image amplification: Tele Vue 3× Powermate
  • Atmospheric correction: ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector
  • Capture software: ASIStudio and FireCapture
  • Stacking and sharpening: AutoStakkert! and RegiStax
  • Planetary derotation: WinJUPOS

Visual observing

The Quattro can also be configured for visual observing, making use of its large aperture for detailed views of the Moon and planets as well as brighter deep-sky objects.

  • Eyepieces: A selection of 1.25-inch and 2-inch eyepieces

60 mm Refractor Telescope

The RVO Horizon 60 ED is a compact doublet refractor with a 60 mm aperture and 360 mm focal length. Its wide field of view makes it particularly well suited to imaging large nebulae, star fields and extended deep-sky objects.

Telescope and mount

  • Telescope: RVO Horizon 60 ED Doublet Refractor — 60 mm aperture, 360 mm focal length, f/6
  • Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi Mount and Tripod — a portable computer-controlled equatorial mount

Deep-sky imaging

The refractor is configured as a portable wide-field imaging system, controlled through an ASIAIR and used to capture large nebulae, star fields and extended areas of the night sky.

  • Imaging camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro cooled colour camera
  • Guiding: Horizon 32 mm Guide-scope with ZWO ASI120MM Mini monochrome guide camera
  • Filter wheel: ZWO 2-inch EFW, five-position electronic filter wheel
  • Filters: 2-inch IR-cut and dual-band Hα/OIII filters
  • Focusing: ZWO Electronic Automatic Focuser
  • Camera rotation: ZWO CAA electronic camera angle adjuster
  • Control: ZWO ASIAIR Plus Smart Wi-Fi Controller
  • Dew control: Dew heater

Coronado PST Solar Telescope

The Coronado Personal Solar Telescope is a dedicated hydrogen-alpha instrument used to observe and image the Sun’s constantly changing prominences, filaments and surface detail.

Telescope and mount

  • Telescope: Coronado Personal Solar Telescope — 40 mm aperture, 400 mm focal length, f/10, with a 1.0 Å hydrogen-alpha bandpass
  • Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi Mount and Tripod

Solar imaging

For solar imaging, the PST is paired with a high-frame-rate colour camera to record hydrogen-alpha features including prominences, filaments and active regions.

  • Imaging camera: ZWO ASI385MC Colour CMOS Camera
  • Capture software: ASIStudio and FireCapture
  • Stacking and sharpening: AutoStakkert! and RegiStax

Visual solar observing

The PST is also used for direct visual observation through suitable 1.25-inch eyepieces. Its permanently integrated solar-filtering system provides detailed hydrogen-alpha views of the Sun.

AllSky Camera

The automated AllSky camera runs from dusk until dawn, recording a continuous wide-angle view of the sky above MarsChapel Observatory.

Camera and enclosure

  • Camera: Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera Module
  • Lens: Arducam LN051 3.2 mm f/2 ultra-wide-angle lens, providing an approximately 120° field of view
  • Computer: Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+
  • Enclosure: ASE001 All Sky Camera Enclosure
  • Dome: DM31 Oculus 3.1-inch clear dome
  • Dew prevention: ASC01 All Sky Camera Dew Heater Module

Automated sky monitoring

Running the open-source AllSky software, the system starts automatically at dusk and continues until dawn. It produces a live sky view together with time-lapse videos, star trails and keograms, which are published through the MarsChapel Observatory AllSky website.

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