Anyone mounted a dob OTA on an EQ6?

[DJ N]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has mounted a Bintel/GSO 10 Inch dob OTA on an EQ6?

I would imagine it would make for a nice lunar imaging / planetary imaging platform, especially if retrofiited with the JMI Motorfocus unit for the GSO 10:1 focuser and a DMK21......

Any thoughts?

Would make for a much cheaper alternative than for instance a C9.25 or C11, especially if permanently mounted in an observatory.

Cost breakdown would be.......

Bintel or Andrews 10 Inch dob......... $699
303mm Tube rings ........................ $59
JMI Motofocus (GSO 10:1 focuser)... $245
Cheshire Collimator / Sight Tube...... $59

I already own a DMK21, a 2.5x Powermate as well as a 5x Powermate ;)

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Daniel

[noxidc]

i mounted a 12inch gso dob on my neq6

got losmandy universal plate and rings.
works well

[Shiraz]

ditto - OK for planetary - may as well go for the 12 inch. Recommend a better focuser (Moonlite maybe) - the GSO focuser will bend too much when you add the filter wheel, Barlow and DMK. link might be some use. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=85990&highlight=gso

A Newtonian scope has about twice the wind loading footprint of an equivalent SCT - makes life interesting in anything but still conditions and is something you should consider when planning the observatory.

regards Ray

[BC]

Hi,

I did it with exactly that; the GSO 10" dob and an EQ6. I would ensure getting the D saddle version because mine has the smaller Vixen size and it wobbles way too much for imaging. I'd also wonder how strong $59 rings would be?

Cheers,
Bruce

[GC - South Aus]

G'day Daniel

My thoughts are that the 10" Dob should be fine, especially for planetary imaging.

If you look at putting the 12" Dob or Newt on an EQ6 you are really taking the mount to its limits. I know it can be done as I have seen it (and people here have indicated that they have done it), but the mount will not image at its optimum and wind will be a nightmare. You will have to ensure that everything is balanced perfectly!

I considered moving to putting a 12" imaging newtonian on my EQ6 this year and backed away from the idea pretty quickly! I am not even going to considered it in its Carbon Fibre format either. The EQ6 Pro mount is the most valuable asset I have and whilst not as grand as many others (i.e. G11, Titan, AP1200 or the Paramount Me etc), looking after this asset can mean the difference between an average or a great image. I am not in the market for a new mount at the moment (as I cannot afford one :sadeyes:) so I want to look after my EQ6 as best as possible.

I second the move to the Losmandy D saddle plate, as even a 10" on a vixen is a bit wobbly!

Personally (and taking space requirements/restrictions into consideration as well as easy portability, which I know are important to you!) I would wait around for a C9.25 to pop up in the IceTrades or CNC. They are a fantastic scope, perfect for the EQ6 and have a great planet imaging legacy. Will fit any small observatory and are great for taking to dark sites. Just some thoughts, perhaps speak with Paul he used a C9.25 for a long time.

Regards

Gav

[solissydney]

I mounted my Andrew's 12 inch on my EQ6.
Home made job.
See image

[iceman]

All of my recent planetary imaging was done with a 12" newt OTA or 10" newt OTA on an EQ6.

It's heavy, but can be done. I wasn't slewing the mount all about the place. I unlocked it and moved it by hand to get it 'close', and then just made smaller movements with the hand controller.

Once tracking, it was fine!

[DJ N]

Thanks for the response guys............

Ken, that 12 incher looks huge on the EQ6....... however for now, I think in terms of a newt, I would stay at 10 inch.

Hey Gav, thanks for your comments. A couple of valid points, especially about hanging out for a SCT as it will "fit" better in my space constrained observatory.


All good food for thought........

[5ash]

Looking at your cost breakdown I assume you don't already have a 10" dob to demount, so why buy a dob. Why not spend the $699 dollars at Andrews for exactly what you want , a 10" Newtonian with tube rings and dovetail. That's the price for a skywatcher black diamond model. My experience with a small observatory and one of these on an NEQ6 mount was plenty of bruises gained in the dark in the confined space brought about by the long optical tube and counterweight bar. I ended up with a c9.25" mounted on the NEQ6, it's ideal in my size of observatory ( about 2.4metres in diameter).
Philip

Ps I still bang my head , but very rarely.

[DJ N]

Hi Philip,

I appreciate your comment. More and more I am think the SCT route is the way to go due to my space constraints and the general ergonomics (more so unergonomics) of a newt on the EQ6. My observatory is quite tight being about 1900 by 2200:rolleyes:

Cheers,

Daniel

[ZeroID]

I'm swinging an 10" f5 Newt on an EQ6 in a 2.7 x 1.8 Tinshed Ob.
It can be interesting during setup, focussing, fine tuning etc with limited space to get around in but once it is running and imaging then it's pretty good. I converted my (heavy homemade ) Dob to a serrurier truss to drop weight. OTA Frame is only 11.5kg and about 17-18 kg when all accessorised on the mount.