Tube Rings for 12" (GSO 980) Telescope

[Enrique]

Where could I get tube rings for 12" (GSO 980) telescope?

Thanks

[iceman]

Hi Enrique, welcome to the forums!

What are you mounting it on?

PS: are you able to come to IISAC (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/?iisac)? It's just up the road from you!

[ballaratdragons]

Good point Enrique! I am about to make my own so my 12" will fit onto my EQ. It would be handy to know if anything is available. I like to make things myself but I haven't worked out a way to do the tube rings yet. The GS 12" needs 14" tube rings.

By the way, welcome to the forum community!!!

[33South]

When you see the price of good ones I suspect youll decide to MYO.
Dont know of any local ones but didnt look too hard, I got mine for the 10" from Parallax.

From Parallax 14" are US$ 289 plus about US$80pp http://www.parallaxinstruments.com/ring.htm

[ballaratdragons]

:eyepop: 15" rotating rings(for model PI320) - $625 plus postage from USA

I believe I will be making my own!

[Rastis]

What a rip off.
Get the rings fabricated and finish machine them to suit. It would cost bugger all to roll some alloy flat bar and weld some lugs on.

[Enrique]

I will mount the telescope on a EQ-6.

I am discussing with family about going to IISAC. I do not have the approval yet!

[Enrique]

Lee Andrews told me he will find a way to make the rings (he will start working on it next week). It seems GSO is not interested in making them. I will buy the mount from Andrews if I get the rings with it.

[DRCORTEX]

Out of interest, does this mean you are better off simply buying a scope with EQ5/6, if you are changeing from a DOB mount ?


Based on the cost of the DOB motorisation, etc, I don't see the point for a 10" GSO. It seems you are better, simply getting rid of the scope, and buying another with the features you want - GPS, Astrophotography, etc, rather than trying to mod what you have ?

Is this right or am I barking up the wrong tree ? The scope itself in this case, is nothing compared to the cost of the mount and accessories.

Lance

[Enrique]

Thank you all for your inputs.

Regarding DRCORTEX note:
I have a simple 12" GSO Dob (without motorisation) not a 10" one . I want to mount it on a EQ6. If I change the telescope, it would be for a 16" one but I do not think I will do it for a while.

Do you think that a 12" GSO on a EQ6 will not have acceptable performance (including astrophotography)?

Thanks.