Section Contents:
| Webcam Nosepiece Adapter | Long Reach Webcam Nosepiece Adapter | T-thread to webcam thread adapters | C-Mount thread to 1.2" Adapter | Eyepiece Projection Coupler | 4x Imagemate™ | Webcam & CCD filters | Glare and Dew Shield for Notebook PCs | Meade™ Eyepiece Camera Accessory Kit | Guide Speed Joystick | Micro Focus Controller | Auto-Guider port splitter | Star Chaser Guidescope | Mounting Rings for CCD autoguider scopes |

See also Telescope model sections for other Astro-photography accessories

longwebcam
Long-Reach Webcam Thread to 1.25" Adapter

A special adaptor to attach cameras with deep case-front to CCD chip distances Allows many of the popular Logitech (Quickcam) webcams to be attached to standard 1.25" eyepiece holders. Threaded for standard colour filters and turned with internal stepping to combat stray light. Manufactured from black Delrin. See compatibility notes.

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thread
T-thread to webcam thread adaptors - basic and deluxe models

Both of these precision-made adaptors allow you to couple the most popular webcams (Philips ToUcam Pro I & II, Vestra Pro etc) to any male T-threaded attachment. The AC577 Deluxe version goes further and allows standard 1.25” filters to be screw-mounted in front of the camera. And as well as fitting to T-mount accessories, the AC577 is also sized to fit any 2” eyepiece holder. Both adaptors are manufactured from aluminium and have a hard wearing black anodised finish.

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mount
C-Mount Thread to 1.25" Adapter

Allows virtually all CCTV and security cameras (with removable lenses) to be attached to standard 1.25" eyepiece holders. Simply remove the lens from the CCTV camera and screw in the adaptor. Threaded for standard colour filters and turned with internal stepping to combat stray light. Manufactured from black Delrin.

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super
Super-lite eyepiece projection coupler for webcams

 

Designed for use with all webcams fitted with any 1.25" nosepiece (e.g. our AC378, AC414, AC419, AC463 and AC464 screw-in nosepieces). The Super-lite allows you to greatly increase image scale by coupling the webcam directly to eyepieces. The coupler offers a versatile range of camera positions to vary image scale. Click image to see just two of the camera positions. Please note the Super-lite is designed for use with very lightweight cameras and is not for use with heavy CCD or film cameras! Precision turned from black acetyl and supplied with full instructions.

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imagemate
4x Imagemate™
A high-powered image amplification system for webcam and CCD/video imaging

Designed primarily for use with modern webcam, video and other imaging stystems - the compact barrel of the Imagemate™ houses a multi-coated twin element lens system to magnify the focal length of your instrument (and, therefore, the image) by a factor of 4x. The Imagemate delivers the kind of magnification that is usually achieved by eyepiece projection but without the fuss - and avoids the awkwardness (and high risk of “dust-bunnies”) of “doubling up” Barlows to achieve high resolution images with all types of cameras. Although the Imagemate is an ideal amlification system for modern astro-photography ­ it also functions amazingly for purely visual use when combined with your favourite eyepieces. Fits all telescopes with a 1.25” eyepiece holder and all cameras with 1.25” nosepieces. Supplied in a “bolt-bottle” for safe dust-free storage.

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Webcam not included

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cover
BK7 glass cover slip filter
A high quality plain (BK7) glass filter to keep dust and debris away
from your imaging chip.

Nothing is more annoying than having a great image spoilt by debris on your cameras imaging chip. With web imaging this can be a serious problem ­ once the webcam lens has been removed, a direct pathway for particulate material is open to the imaging chip and it is almost impossible to stop dust and debris building up (and creating nasty artefacts that integrating software tends to favour over planetary detail!) and spoiling images. In the worst cases you can end up confined to using tiny portions of the chip that are not marred by the build up of debris. Our screw-on cover slip filter solves this problem once and for all. If you fit the filter with the nosepiece you will avoid the problem completely. If you already have a “dust bunny” problem, then carefully clean up the chip and fit the filter, and you may never have to clean the chip again. The BK7 glass in our filter passes all imaging bandwidth and has no detectable effect on the image. Supplied in foam filled plastic storage case.

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Webcam adaptor not included

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ac582
1.25” IR and UV blocking filter

Our high-quality “hot mirror” infrared and ultraviolet blocking filter is designed for use with modern webcam and CCD imaging cameras. If you use a webcam with almost any telescope except a well-corrected Newtonian, you are likely to encounter halos around stars and a problem often referred to as “fuzzy focus”. This happens because any telescope that employs any form of lens in the light path is unable to bring the whole light spectrum to a single well-defined focus. The UV and IR parts of the spectrum will be brought to different focus points to the rest of the spectrum, hence the loss of resolution and halo effects.

Our IR block filter passes 88% average of the visible bandwidth - 400nm to 700nm - whilst blocking 98% average of the bandwidth in the range 750nm to 1150nm. The AC582 also blocks near UV energy. Supplied in a shockproof plastic storage case.

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eclipse
The Eclipse: Glare and Dew Shield for Notebook PCs.
"Light Etiquette" for your computer screen
 

The Eclipse glare shield is an ideal accessory for CCD or webcam imaging in the field. In daylight it shields the screen and improves contrast (great for solar imaging). At night, the Eclipse helps you stay friends with other observers by shielding their night vision from the glare from your screen and it even helps to keep dew at bay. The clever spring-loaded design allows the Eclipse to self-erect the moment it is removed from it's travel case. And at the end of the session it simply folds flat again for easy storage and transport. Fits all notebook-type PCs with screen sizes ranging from 280mm to 410mm (11" to 16").

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eyepiecekit
Accessory Kit for Meade Eyepiece Camera
 

A useful accessory kit for the popular Meade Eyepiece camera. Comprising a 10m (32.5ft) replacement video phono plug to plug cable and a parfocal eyepiece locking ring to synchronise an eyepiece focus to the cameras to make target finding and framing easier. Shielded cable for low loss imaging.

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joystick
Guide Speed Joystick
 

A self centring 8 point joystick for use with all models of LX200 Classic/GPS. Perfect for precise, intuitive target cantering when CCD, Webcam or Digital camera imaging. Supplied with over 5m (16ft) of lead which can be extended if required. Simply plug the joystick into the CCD guider port and start steering! Suitable for use with most telescopes with 6 way modular jack guider socket.

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focus
Micro-focus controller
A precise handset focus controller for critical task Webcam and CCD imaging
 

Designed primarily for use with the micro-focuser supplied with the Meade LX200GPS telescopes, the AC516 will also function with other motorised focusers as well. The unit features tactile feedback control buttons, solid-state electronics, and precise IC regulated speed control. A special feature is the electronic “auto-brake” - when the user lifts his finger off either position button the micro-processor instantly freezes the motor to prevent unpredictable run-on. Ideal for remote operation set-ups and any situation were precise intuitive control of the focuser is demanded. Includes 1.7m (extended) coiled extension cable (additional cable available). Operates on 9V PP3 battery not included. Please note that this product does not include a motorised telescope focuser.

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splitter
Auto-Guider port splitter
(2-into-1 socket splitter)
 

This simple socket splitter allows you to put two 6 way modular jack cables into one CCD auto-guider socket. Used with the Guide Speed joystick above to allow a CCD auto-guider and joystick to be plugged into the LX200s CCD auto-guider socket at the same time.

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star
The Star-Chaser AG70
At last, a quality lightweight refractor designed with the
specialist needs of CCD auto-guiding in mind
The Star-Chaser is designed to appeal to anyone who intends to use a CCD or other form of imaging auto- guider for astrophotography. Its 70mm f10 design incorporates features that will delight the sophisticated astro-photographer. The all-metal focuser features Teflon guides to improve focus tube rigidity, robust drawtube lock, and oversized aluminium focus knobs for smooth precise focusing. Unlike most other small refractors commonly pressed into service for auto-guiding tasks, the Star-Chaser focuser has been designed to keep the prime focus point as close to the drawtube lock as possible to minimise flexure. The rear support ring holding screws sit in a specially designed groove to prevent slipping and flexure when the telescope is pointing at high altitudes. Supplied complete with dew shield and finished in a matching blue to complement your Meade instrument, the Star-Chaser looks as good as it performs. Mounting ring sets are available separately. See below for general-purpose rings and “Accessories for Meade LX SCT range of telescopes” off the Product Directory menu for scope model listing. We recommend a counterbalance system be employed with this product - see LX SCT section off the Product Directory menu.

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Star-Chaser AG70 (AC570)
Technical specifications

Lens design.....................................
Aperture.........................................
Focal length....................................
Focuser .........................................
Weight (without rings).....................
Overall length (min. focus)...............
Maximum between rings..................

Air-spaced achromatic doublet
70mm (f10)
700mm
Rack and pinion, all metal construction
1.6kg (3lb 8oz)
74cm (29”)
50cm (19.75”)

mounting
General purpose mountings rings for attachment
to flat ring-tops and plates.

Designed primarily for supporting CCD autoguider scopes, our GP rings can be fitted to any suitable flat surface (on top of existing support rings or on mounting/dovetail plates) and can be used for a variety mounting and astro photography tasks. A second flat area on the ring allows either the attachment of a ball-and-socket head for camera fitting or two sets of rings to be locked together to mount two telescopes side by side. The rings are precision manufactured from aluminium in our workshops and are finished in anodic black dye. Three adjustment screws, 120 degrees apart with plastic tip protection, are fitted to each ring and are designed to clamp the scope rigidly in place, but also to allow quick star centering for CCD autoguiding work or simple, main-scope alignment for astro photography.

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