Ad Astra Observatory

A,

In order that I can use my scope for either visual or photo, I have this

long-ass drawtube. It’s racked in for the camera, racked out for the
eyepieces, everything works, except of course it takes 5 years for the
motor focuser to run out that far (it’s a slooooow motor).

So I hate the racking out process.
And I also hate that when I’m racked in, I can clearly see the drawtube
in the light path.
I also wonder if I’m vignetting on the drawtube.

So I’m thinking that I want to trade in for the shortest drawtube
possible; like <1” of travel, since the camera basically doesn’t move
that much once it’s focused, and then buy a correct-length extension
tube so that I can focus the camera, pop it out, pop in the extension +
eyepiece, and the eyepiece will either be parfocal (ideal) or at least

able to be focused (less ideal but doable) within a very small focus range.

What do you think? Do you think that it’s possible to do this? I’ve
already parfocalized my 32mm and reticle EPs, so if I can figure out
what the drawtube distance is between “camera is focused” and “reticle
is focused”, I should be able to order the 2 pieces I need from

Moonlite, and I get all the wins:

– no more 5 years to switch
– easy centering of targets
– less vignetting on the drawtube
– keep center of gravity close to tube
– lower profile focuser
etc.

What do you think?

What length of drawtube did you use on your Newt?

Inquiring minds want to know.

J