Going for it also...

[JohnH]

Kieken, Columbus and now me...it is going to be cloudy for a looong time...

My desire was for a portable system for visual/photographic use that would give good results with short unguided shots and be capable of longer shots with guiding. Thus I wanted a high precision mount but did not need big load carrying capacity. I have chosen the

Vixen VC200L plus the Sphinx mount....

[davidpretorius]

cool

[Kieken]

Since I'm the only one in Europe, I won't have that much of clouds ;).

Anyway, good luck with your thingies.

[acropolite]

Nice choice John, I'll be very interested to see how it performs...:D

[rmcpb]

I was starting to wonder who the problem was with all the clouds :)

[[1ponders]]

Don't forget nightshift. Him and his 12" Dob :tasdevil:

[seeker372011]

Congratulations on the new scope..eventually clear skies will no doubt present themselves:)

[JohnH]

But the week of cloud was just for ordering the scope - what will we get when it arrives I wonder...?

[ving]

as long as you arent near me, congrats! :D

[h0ughy]

where did you get that map John? be nice to see the sphinx mount, you also getting the tabletop feet?

[JohnH]

h0ughy - no tabletop legs just the tripod - for now - the map is from here:

http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/auscloud3days.shtml

Not sure it they will keep posting AUS wx now the ski season is over....

Clear Skies!

[JohnH]

Yipeeee!!!

The VC200L and Sphinx arrived yesterday (thanks to Warren at Astro Optical, Sydney for patience, advice and a good deal) and I picked it up today. It would appear that the cloud curse is with me for this one, so we have no clouds in Sydney tonight. To allow this the gods have determined that I will be stuck at work tonight plus most of the w/e and so I may not be able to even open the boxes for some days yet.

[Striker]

Congrats on the mount John...make sure to post some pics once set up.

We all want to see it.

Do you get the star book that.?????

[JohnH]

Yes, Starbook also. Hope to get hands on this w/e and get some photos, the work problem is under control and we might finish tonight (23:30 at present)....:zzz2:

[JohnH]

:) Grrrrrrinnnnnnn!!!!:)

A few pictures of my new photon collector and a few first shots with the LPI and one PB M42...oh I love it, soooo quiet, smooth, easy to use...thrilled.

[Kieken]

Looks sweet. I hope to see more pictures of it and with it. :)

[Robert_T]

all nice gleaming white and shiny :) - how does the Vixen and Hal110 carry the 8inch tube? Damping time OK? Interested as I'd considered the sphinx for my Mewlon which is about identical in size and weight to the VC200 thingy. Be great to learn how you feel it goes with tracking accuracy after you've had a play for while.

enjoy!

[davidpretorius]

well done john

roughly what are they worth???

[asimov]

Very nice Johnno! Congrats.

[RB]

Awesome setup John.

Hope you get some good weather mate.

:drink:

[33South]

A white beauty, I can see why you are grinnnnnnning. :D (http://misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=6#)

I bet every time you walk past you have to touch it. (No Ving!! :lol: )

Chris

[JohnH]

Thanks guys for the nice comments - and to answer some questions:

Chris, you busted me I do find my hand on the paintwork as I pass by....:)

I bought a bunch of other stuff with it and got a discount but the VCL200-SXW package which includes the Sphinx and Starbook plus two LX EPs and the tripod was $5275 from Astro Optical.

Carrying capacity of the Sphinx is 10Kg, I have only used it for an hour or two so far and find it does what I hoped for, it is quiet, smooth, accurate and low backlash (and I assume PEC) and suitable for 8-10 inch SCT. TAK130s are used on the mount also so it can go over 10Kr but then balance is essential (according to those who know on Yahoo)

The starbook is a great controller, point on the screen and off the scope goes with good accuracy so far even with rough alignment (simply approx level and east).

[h0ughy]

Looks very nice John, I am sure there are a few members here with green eyes with this set up :)