More rc8 q's

[xcoupeb]

Hi folks, thinking more about gso rc8 and wondering if i would be pushing it by mounting my skywatcher ed80 on top for guiding purposes? My mount is the neq6pro and also what would i need to attach it to it? rc8 has vixen dovetail on top and my ed80 has clamshell rings on a vixen rail. can rails be joined together or do i need a new set of rings?

thanks

[RickS]

Tandum has a RC8 and he couldn't get round stars until he started using off axis guding instead of a guide scope. That was my experience with the RC10 as well. Maybe it's possible to tweak a guide scope set up to work with these scopes, but it may take some effort...

Cheers,
Rick.

[Tandum]

To be a little more accurate, it was cheaper for me to get an OAG than buy more metalwork :)
Paul Haese (http://paulhaese.net/Equipment2.html) used to piggyback an ed80 but I think he fitted rings to the rc8 and bolted them to a long losmandy D bar to push the scope weight forward.
I have a counterweight (http://admaccessories.com/D_Series_Counterweight.htm) hanging off the front of mine to balance the thing.

[Paul Haese]

Off axis guiding is the best bet for imaging with the RC8. I was at one stage using a guide scope but on a heavier mount. If you want to persist I used parrallax rings and a couple of losmandy bars which I drilled holes suitable for holding everything. However, it will be cheaper for you to use an OAG so long as it is good quality.

Hey Robin, thanks for the reminder to remove a few pages off my site. Some things are getting a bit dated now. That is one page that needs removing.:)

[TrevorW]

I have a guide scope and it works fine for me

[xcoupeb]

Thanks for the comments, the combo seems to be within the weight spec for the eq6 but flex isnt a problem id like to sort out down the track so perhaps an oag is the go. any recommendations here? dont know 1 iota about oag'ing except from what ive read about them being a pain in the backside to focus

[Paul Haese]

Standard Moag or Monster Moag are about the best getting around. Worth considering.

[Marke]

Dont forget the Hutech OAG and they are cheaper :thumbsup:

[Tandum]

I went the cheap option and got an orion oag. I think it was around $150 . I had to modify it to remove slop in the thing and the prism intrudes into the optical path at times but it was cheap :D