What else can I put on a Celestron 130 SLT mount?

[RussellC]

Hi All,

I'm new and this is my first post - I'd like to say that I love this forum - reading the posts and reviews have been a great help to me starting out with my new scope! Thanks!

I got myself a celestron 130slt from Andrews for $699 - I was wrapped - I had never heard of them till a saw some references to them here. The goto mount is fantastic - I reccommend to any beginner - but I already want to see more!! I could sell my slt, but I want to keep its goto - It has a Alt-Az CG-5 dovetail mount that can take about 5kg.

Now for my first question: Does anyone know if there would be SCT or mak scope that might suit this mount - there seems to be ones that suited to CG-5 mounts - but these are equitorial - does eq matter, or is this a stupid question? :shrug:

[iceman]

Hi Richard!

:welcome: to IIS, congrats on your first post and congrats on your first scope!

It won't matter if your mount is Alt/Az - other OTA's can go on top no problems. You just need to make sure you're under weight.

[RussellC]

Thanks Iceman!

I'll make sure I don't overload the mount with too much weight!

Cheers

Russell :thumbsup:

[[1ponders]]

Hi Russell. As Mike has said, the biggest problem will be weight. What is the limit for your mount? To achieve a noticeable difference you will probably want to move up to an 8" SCT. That may be too much for your mount.

If you would like to go up in aperture without buying a new mount have you considered a Dob? No goto (unless you get an argo navis) but plenty of aperture for the bucks.

[RussellC]

Thanks 1ponders,

The limit of my mount is 5kg and 8inch SCTs seem to be more than this.

Yep a dob is probably the way to go - I'll learn the night sky with my little newt - and once I know things better to get around without goto I think I'll go for a 10 or 12inch dob so I can see it better!!!

Thanks for the advice guys!:)