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Old 23-03-2008, 03:46 PM
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Guide Scope attachment

I'm looking for ideas of how to attach a guide scope to my GSO 10" Newt. The guide scope I'm considering is an 80mm ED. I notice some people have their guide scope mounted in regular tube rings above the main OTA and others have them mounted beside the main OTA. I'm using an EQ6 mount and I assume from a weight perspective it's better to keep the guide scope close to the mount.

What off the shelf parts do you recommend and where do you get them? Does anyone have plans/instructions for a home made solution?

Peter
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Old 24-03-2008, 10:45 AM
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George

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Hi Peter,

If you can afford the weight, have you considered a side-by-side setup? I found it less than practical to put the guide scope on my main scope, and use the side-by-side setup. Seems to work OK, but someone that knows more than me, might have some input into long tracking runs and field rotation.

Good luck.
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Old 24-03-2008, 10:52 AM
Zuts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Escortitis View Post
Hi Peter,

If you can afford the weight, have you considered a side-by-side setup? I found it less than practical to put the guide scope on my main scope, and use the side-by-side setup. Seems to work OK, but someone that knows more than me, might have some input into long tracking runs and field rotation.

Good luck.
This is basically what i used to do, except on an EQ6. These adaptors are available quite cheaply from Bintel and would do the trick https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Images/Stock/7842X.jpg.

If you want to go more expensive, but probably more rigid this Australian manufacturer produces the following, specifically for side to side mounting on an EQ6.

http://www.starstuff.com.au/sbsp2.html

I purchased the mount adjusters for the EQ6, they are excellent and very good quality.

Regards Paul
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Old 24-03-2008, 01:37 PM
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Paul,

Thanks for the info. That was the type of thing I was looking for. I notice there are two different width options (80 and 100). Is the Vixen style used on the EQ6?

Also is Starstuff the only supplier in Australia?

Cheers,

Peter
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Old 24-03-2008, 02:34 PM
Zuts
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Hi,

Yes, the EQ6 uses Vixen size dovetails. Starstuff is not just the supplier it is also the manufacturer, I dont think he uses an agent but sells the stuff himself.

There are other options from Losmandy but they are probably even more expensive.

Paul
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Old 25-03-2008, 08:12 PM
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Thanks for the info Paul.

I've spent today surfing the web and turned up a selection of products locally and in the US. It's going to be an expensive exercise but I borrowed and tried a SBS plate tonight and it is appears to work well with my setup.

I got some advice from vendors today that suggested SBS was a mistake due to balance problems - I'm interested to hear from members with large Newts and guide scopes mounted side-by-side to hear if they have any issues with balancing.

Peter
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Old 25-03-2008, 09:54 PM
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George

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Hi Peter,

I posted the pic of my setup up the thread a bit, it's a very new setup however I have had the time to play a bit. I have limited knowledge of what I'm doing, I'm new to astronomy, having said that, a good balance of your scopes is a must for accurate guiding and imaging as anyone here will tell you.

With the setup shown, with cameras and other equipment on, I have achieved what I believe to be excellent balance on both the RA and DEC. Granted it was harder to achieve but it was possible. I started with DEC balance first (contrary to everything I've read, but....) by rolling the RA over so the counter weight bar was parallel to the ground and both scope's pointing straight up. I moved the guide scope in or out on the SBS plate to achieve balance in this position. (I've put the newt as close to the center of the mount as the dovetail would allow, 18kg v 1kg, enough said.) Leaving RA where it was, I rolled the DEC 90 degrees so both the scopes were parallel to the ground as well as the counter weight bar, and moved the newt along it's dovetail until a good balance was achieved in this position. I found you can use the guide scope for 'fine' balance in the same method.

RA balance was by the book, all be it last on the agenda. My setup is permanent, so once I got it right I haven't changed a thing, merely moving the guide scope back a fraction if I plug the barlow in.

I hope there isn't too many blokes shaking their heads about now, and like I said I haven't been doing this long, however using this method I have a SBS setup and I also have great balance in all orientations.

Lastly some egg sucking, Make sure you get a rough balance with your big scope and the counter weight first, that first flip over to the horizontal might hurt!

If you go with a SBS setup I hope this helps Peter

George
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Old 25-03-2008, 10:27 PM
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George,

Thanks for the response. I tried a friends SBS tonight and the DEC balance was better in this configuration than what I had with the main tube on it's own for some reason??? I didn't have enough counterweights to properly trial the RA.

This plate was made in Aus - found a supplier in SA that has them. Interested to hear if there are other local or OS options.

Here's some happy snaps...
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Old 25-03-2008, 11:50 PM
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George

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Great looking setup Peter!

With the 12", my biggest problem was always going to be rigidity. The SBS and dovetails are all Losmandy, they are just so solid. I still must be careful if the wind is up, I've just put a sliding roof on my shed and moved in there to get as much protection from the wind as possible (It was always going to be a problem, lots of leverage at this focal length). Your setup may not require the strength I needed and I haven't seen what other suppliers have on offer, I'm sorry I cant be much help with that. I hope the SA supplier is Matthew Lovell, his help in my setup was excellent.

'Local supplier' for astronomy gear where I live is a swear word!

Hope you get what you need.

Regards,

George
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Old 26-03-2008, 08:26 AM
ozstockman (Mike)
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I am using ADM Dual Side by Side Mounting System for Vixen Style Mounts with Orion Guidescope rings and they work fine for both 8" SCT and Skywatcher ED80 refractor.
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Old 26-03-2008, 02:58 PM
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From the first photo - did you get all your ironing done? Thats probably why SWMBO let you buy the guide scope.
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  #12  
Old 26-03-2008, 05:33 PM
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Alan,

I'm going for the "ask for forgiveness" option. It was going to take more than ironing to get the side by side bar sanctioned. Then there's the extra counterweight and I'll need a better guide camera than the Neximage if I'm going to guide on anything other than Sirius.

Peter.
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Old 26-03-2008, 10:38 PM
Zuts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peter_4059 View Post
Alan,

I'm going for the "ask for forgiveness" option. It was going to take more than ironing to get the side by side bar sanctioned. Then there's the extra counterweight and I'll need a better guide camera than the Neximage if I'm going to guide on anything other than Sirius.

Peter.
I have a meade DSI colour for sale in ice classifieds, this worked fine for me on my Meade ED80 as a guide scope and using PhD for guiding.

Paul
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