Edge HD11

The Edge HD series of telescopes are Schmidt Cassegrain (SCT) design allowing for very long focal length imaging. The HD model of the SCT allows flat imagery field to the edge of the image preventing star elongation at the edge of the images. I have the Edge HD 11" model that has a focal length of 2800mm with a focal ratio of F10. I also have a focal reducer that shortens the focal ratio to 1980mm and a focal ratio of F7.

This scope is all about magnification so targets such as small nebula, galaxies and planets are perfect targets for this scope, however with the focal length comes lots of challenges to overcome. First is polar alignment, just getting the mount polar aligned requires much more accuracy, guiding needs to be done with either a long focal length guidescope or an off access guider. Other challenges include focusing as the built in focuser can be changed as the scope is slewed around. Also with the slower optics it requires more time on target to gather the light so a typical target might take several nights of imaging to get the same about of signal to noise that say a RASA could do in a night.

This scope is heavy, the tube alone is 28 lbs and then all the additional equipment it weighs in around 55 lbs. With this scope I have added items such as an inline focuser, camera rotator, off axis guider, filter wheel and camera. I have also added a flat panel generator that acts as a scope cap when not in use. Because of the additional weight I mount this on the Rainbow Astro RST300.