Evaluation and Review of the Takahashi EM-11 Temma 2M and TSA-102 as a Light Weight, Airline-Transportable System for Visual Astronomy and Astrophotography

This page summarizes a set of tests that I ran with a Takahashi EM-11 Temma 2M and a TSA-102A as a light weight, airline- transportable sytem for travel to distant locations for visual astronomy and astrophotography. I also tested the EM-11 with lighter astrophotography system loads and with two autoguider systems. Finally, I summarize experiences traveling with the EM-11 from the USA to Australia for an astrophotography trip.
Details of test and experiences follow the summary conclusions that are listed below.

Summary Conclusions for the EM-11 Temma 2M
Strengths of the EM-11 Temma 2M Mount

Summary Conclusions for the TSA-102
Strengths of the TSA-102 Telescope

Summary Conclusions for the EM-11 and TSA-102 as a Light Weight, Airline-Transportable System for Visual Astronomy and Astrophotography
Strengths of the EM-11 - TSA-102 System for Visual Astronomy and Astrophotography at Airline Accessible Sites:

Limitations of the EM-11 / TSA-102 System



Test Details with the EM-11 and TSA-102

Takahashi EM-11 and TSA-102

The Takahashi EM-11 is rated to carry a 18.75 lb (8.5 kg) telescope system load (The Takahashi America website at the time of writing this web page lists the mount capacity at 25 lbs.) The TSA-102 with focuser extension, diagonal and clamshell mount ring weighs about 14 lbs and is balanced on the EM-11 with the standard 7 lb. (3.5 kg) counter weight. My experience running the system with TheSky6 Professional was that the mount would move from object to object during Goto movement and consistently place objects in the center of a 42 arc minute viewing circle (center of Televue 7mm Nagler 6 eyepiece field).
The TSA-102 is an incredibly strong performing visual instrument with superb contrast and no false color when viewing Jupiter. Deep sky objects "pop" out of the heavens when viewing at a dark sky location. The EM-11 provides solid support for the TSA-102 for visual deep sky and planetary observing even if there is a 5-10mph breeze.

The low weight set up for astrophotography that I tested has a Vixen 70s guidescope (70mm f/6 - 420mm FL) mounted on the clamshell with Kirk Arca-style clamp and plate, Orion Starshoot autoguider, TOA-35 field flattener and Canon EOS-40D. An extra 1/4" hole is drilled through the plate and clamshell to prevent flexure. The total weight of the system is 20.75 lbs. The system is easily balanced with 7 lb. and 10 lb. counter weights. I put a Feather Touch focuser on the OTA for ease of fine focusing.
The mount seems to be rock solid on a FC-L tripod. However, quality of guiding on the mount is visible diminished if there is a 5 mph breeze.
Based on tests so far, the TSA-102 isn't quite as strong an astrograph as it is a visual instrument when coupled with a TOA-35 flattener. The telescope/flattener weak point appears to be minor chromatic aberration (especially on yellow stars.)
The first round of autoguiding experience resulted in significant tracking errors. Further tests with lighter loads and with SBIG autoguiders subsequently were run.
Takahashi EM-11: MaxIm DL Tracking Error Graph from the Orion Starshoot for Takahashi EM-11 with TSA-102 and Vixen 70s guidescope with 2x Barlow lens to bring guidescope FL to 840mm to match with the 816mm FL of the TSA-102. X error is off the Dec axis. Y error is off the RA axis. The mount was polar aligned using the polar scope and then microadjusting it by drift alignment. This is the best track that I got after balancing the telescope on the mount and adjusting MaxIm DL settings.
Takahashi EM-11: MaxIm DL Tracking Error Graph from the Orion Starshoot for Takahashi EM-11 with TSA-102 and Vixen 70s guidescope with 2x Barlow lens to bring guidescope FL to 840mm . This is typical variation in dec and RA tracking that occurred within 10-15 minutes of the start of an autoguiding session with the TSA-102 and and guidescope system at 840 mm.
Takahashi EM-11: MaxIm DL Tracking Error Graph from the Orion Starshoot for Takahashi EM-11 with TSA-102 and Vixen 70s guidescope to bring guidescope FL to 420mm . This is typical variation in dec and RA tracking that occurs within 10-15 minutes of starting an autoguiding session with the TSA-102 and a guidescope system at 420 mm.
Compared tracking error with a Losmandy GM-8. MaxIm DL Tracking Error Graph from the Orion Starshoot for a Losmandy GM-8 with TSA-102 and Vixen 70s guidescope with 2x Barlow lens to bring guidescope FL to 840mm to match with the 816mm TSA-102. The Losmandy GM-8 is rated to carry a 30 lb. telescope system. X error is off the Dec axis. Y error is off the RA axis. The mount was polar aligned by drift alignment. This is the best track I got after balancing the telescope on the mount and adjusting MaximDL settings. The GM-8 is an incredibly capable mount and tracked accurately for 20 to 30 minutes as tested. However, the GM-8 with tripod legs weighs 8 more lbs. than a comparable EM-11 and doesn't easily break down into as small a package that is as easily airline transportable.
Light load camera system and guidescope onTakahashi EM-11: Digital camera and lens mounted with Vixen 70s guidescope and Orion Starshoot autoguider on Losmandy DUP plate via G-11 SPT dovetail. Total weight is 15 lbs.
MaxIm DL Tracking Error Graph from the Orion Starshoot autoguider with the Takahashi EM-11 with light weight digital camera and lens with guidescope FL at 420mm.
Tracking was accurate and stable over the 25 minutes tested with this 15 lb system on the EM-11.
Takahashi EM-11, TSA-102, Vixen 70s, SBIG ST-10XME with remote guiding head: Tests were run with the guiding remote guiding head on the Vixen 70s at 420mm as well as the with the internal tracking chip through the TSA-102 at 816mm.
MaxIm DL Tracking Error Graph from the SBIG ST-10XME remote guiding head through the Vixen guidescope at 420mm. Tracking was stable for 10-15 minutes, but then became as irregular as with the Starshoot autoguider.
MaxIm DL Tracking Error Graph from the SBIG ST-10XME internal chip through the TSA-102 at 816mm. While tracking was accurate for 15 to 20 minutes, erratic tracking similar to that with the Starshoot autoguider developed after that time.
Double cluster test. EOS-40D / TSA-102 / TOA-35 flattener mounted on EM-11 guided by Orion Starshoot autoguider through Vixen 70s guidescope (420mm). Stack of 4, 2 minute exposures. The telescope was focused with a Bahtinov focusing mask using the 40D's live view function immediately prior to taking the astrophotos. The TSA-102 with TOA-35 flattener produces slight color aberration (see red ring around yellow stars). Otherwise, performance was very good.
M45 test. Stack of 4, 5 minute exposures with EOS-40D / TSA-102 / TOA-35 flattener mounted on EM-11 guided by Orion Starshoot autoguider through Vixen 70s guidescope (420mm). RAW images processed with DPP. Tifs were stacked in Registar and processed with PhotoShop CS4. Only the first 4 of 10 exposures in the series had round stars.
M33 test. Stack of 5, 5 minute exposures with EOS-40D / TSA-102 / TOA-35 flattener mounted on EM-11 guided by Orion Starshoot autoguider through Vixen 70s guidescope (420mm). The first 5 of 17 exposures had round stars.
M33 test. Stack of 2, 5 minute exposures RGB and 10, 5 minute luminance exposures. ST-10XME camera and autoguider with TSA-102 and TOA-35 flattener on EM-11 with Vixen 70s guidescope. The image is a mixture of exposures run with internal and external guider operating at 840mm and 420mm, respectively. Generally, only the first few astrophotos in the series were good (e.g., had round star images associated with good tracking). After 15 to 25 minutes of tracking, tracking accuracy irregularity developed leading to ovoid-shaped star images.
The TSA-102 and TOA-35 yield uneven illumination fields. Flats are essential to image processing.
Flat field shot at dawn: TSA-102, TOA-35 flattener, SBIG ST-10XME with red filter.
Line through field is a bright star trail producing by running the mount at high speed while exposing the flat for 5 second.
EM-200 and TSA-102
EM-200 and TSA-102

In contrast to the EM-11, the heavier EM-200 gave excellent tracking results with the TSA-102. Click HERE.

Packing the EM-11 and Telescope for Air Travel Astronomy Adventures

Bags packed for the 2010 Australia Trip (Queensland Astrofest). The EM-11 is packed in the Pelican case. Tripod legs are in the Samsonite hardcase with clothing. Counter weights and other imaging gear is in the Lowepro bag. The carry on backpack carries a FSQ-85, EOS-40D/5D and lenses. My laptop is clipped on to the back pack. EM-11 and cables packed in Pelican 1610 case.


EM-11 in Australia
FC-M tripod legs easily fit into a standard suitcase and can be wrapped in clothes for protection. The added portability of this short leg set comes at the price of having to sit to use the telescope visually at your travel site. The nodel point of the FC-M leg set is advertised as 33-44" for the 27-40" long legs.
The FC-L tripod leg set is much better for general use and being able to stand while viewing. The FC-L has an advertised 41-61" nodal point with 36-51" long legs. However, it is very difficult to pack FC-L legs for air travel unless you go to an oversize bag.
Queensland Astrofest 2010: EM-11 with FSQ-85, Vixen 70s guidescope and Acratech ball head on a modified Losmandy DUP plate. I used a Losmandy G-11 SPT saddle to mount the plate on the EM-11.
I was running the Starshoot autoguider off my Windows 7 laptop and got very good tracking for astrophotography with camera lenses (Canon EF 135mm f/2L) and the FSQ-85. The system was used for sequential 3 to 5 minute-long exposures.

Large Magellanic Cloud
ScopeGuard airline transport case for TSA-102. I initially purchased the TSA-102 thinking that I could take it on the airline as carry-on. The Takahashi America website indicated at the time of purchase that the telescope is "less than 23" with the lens shade retracted." This raised hope that it would fit diagonally in the 22 x 14 x 9 inch cage that airlines such as American Airlines and Quantas use to measure allowable carry on items. Unfortunately, the TSA-102 is a almost 25" long and doesn't fit in the airline cage.
When I flew to Australia, Quantas personnel were inspecting all items that looked slightly oversized by putting them in the cage before you could get on the plane. If the item didn't fit, it got checked with baggage. (Think "tinkle-tinkle" as ED glass shards move around in your OTA rolling around in the checked baggage compartment.)
Image of Large Magellanic Cloud taken at 2010 Queensland Astrofest.
Canon EOS-40D (Hutech modified) and EF 135mm f/2L lens at f/4. Mounted on EM-11 with guiding via Orion Starshoot Autoguider through Vixen 70s guidescope. Stack of 5, 5 minute exposures.

Problem Solved with my new EM-11 Temma 2M in the Sourthern Hemisphere

If you are running off a 12V battery, use a heavy duty (5-10 Amp) fused power cable

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initially posted 07 November 2010; Last revision 23 April 2011