Equipment
Aard22Tel2802

If you’ve looked at a few observatories, you know that astronomers love their equipment.  And apparently the BIGGER the better. We are no different!
PsychfinalB02

Besides all of the really BIG scopes that you’ve seen the aardvarks stealing a peak through (scattered throughout our website, in these images off our interior pan tilt observatory camera), here is some additional equipment that we use:
RCOS16inDome02

Ritchey-Chretien 16”

Until 2007, this was remotely operated from New Mexico Skies in Cloudcroft, NM. (Now it is in our observatory here in the Sierras of California.)

So, seriously, this is by far our best scope ever.

Paramount02
AP900GTOMount02
SBIG-ST10XMECamera02

The RC-16 deserves an excellent mount. The Paramount ME from Software Bisque is the best.

Astro-Physics 900 GTO Mount

This is another fine mount. Because for CCD imaging, you must start with a stable mount - ultimately, even more important than the telescope.

SBIG ST-10XME Imaging Camera

With 2184 x 1472 pixels at 6.8 microns, and peak QE>85%, this is a great imager. Though the FOV is a bit small.
Apogee U9000 Camera02

Apogee U9000 Imaging Camera

With 3056 x 3056 pixels at 12 microns, this imager sports a very large chip size.
ProDome02

Pro Dome by Technical Innovations

This 15’ dome, with the DigiWorks dome automation, was my choice for Aardvark Observatory.
meade7inscope03

Meade LX200 7” Mak-Cas

Among the Meade LX200 line, I think this scope has the most  crisp optics.  Though  the beast is a bit heavy for a “portable” scope. I’ve used this scope for observing from Maui.
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