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View Full Version here: : Classic C8 wedge, how do you "install" lat. scale?


mental4astro
03-03-2011, 10:44 PM
Hi all,

I've just got my mits on a ridgie-didge Classic Celestron C8! You know, the one Leonard Nimoy advertised? :cool:

It's in beautiful nick, considering its 30years, neigh a mark on the thing!

Thing is, the wedge doesn't a latitude scale, so I'm unsure on how to set it correctly, :shrug: . The original instructions are useless on this aspect.

Is there some way of "installing" a latitude scale on this wedge? :question:

Cheers,

Mental.

GrampianStars
04-03-2011, 06:49 AM
G'day Alex
The horizontal base of the wedge should be as close to perfect level as possible. (use spirit level on 2D axis)
Then You would want the tilt plate angle to be around 33° degrees,
for your (Sydney) location. So the physical tilt angle would be 57 degrees.
(i.e. 90° vertical - 33° Sydney = 57° plate angle) ;)
Use a protractor on the tilt plate and a bob string line.
Make a paper scale with this 33° in the middle.(also scribe mark the wedge)
Adjust the tilt plate up and down (knob on rear) to other positions and mark on paper.
Then transcribe details onto a thin Alu. strip painted (from drink can) and glue into place.
Exact fine tuning is done via drift aligning :thumbsup:

GrampianStars
04-03-2011, 01:50 PM
Here's the C8 manual
ftp://downloads.celestron.com/pub/manuals/telescopes/ultima_series/c-8_multiples.pdf
here's my Meade 2080 wedge to show you

mental4astro
04-03-2011, 10:09 PM
Many thanks for that Rob. Cheers.

Alex.