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Old 10-08-2013, 11:12 AM
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g__day (Matthew)
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 2,902
One other thought - piggy back or side saddle?

I have tried both options. First I mounted a 80mm WO refractor on top of the C9.25 and had a 127mm MAK side by side. Now I have the C9.25 on the left and a WO 110mm on the right with a WO 88 on top of it. All mounting by the way is using Losmandy side saddle gear - very solid stuff!

I think the side by side is a better option for my needs. My logic is:

1. It lowers the turning moment - that's three heavy scope I have on my mount - plus all the focusers, OAGs, lens, and camera's - lets make the mount's job as easy as possible

2. It places less stress on the SCT outer tube and there its front corrector plate - less distortion means less differential flexure which is a very good thing

I always think the more time and effort planning how all your gear will integrate and inter-operate before you purchase is a great investment of time. The mechanical construction of your observatory itself is a example of this - I really am in awe of what you have achieved!

A few things I would like to know:

1. What is the light pollution like where you will be observing?
2. Do you plan to do strictly narrowband imaging if its poor?
3. What imaging camera/s and/or filters do you plan to match to your OTAs?
4. Are you forward planning peltier or water cooled gear out of interest?

You have build a great observatory that will allow you to do many things over time.

PS

To Clive's post - you put the OAG on your scope with the longest focal length, ahead of the point where it focuses! My PHD guiding graphs can jump one or two bars vertically at a time - which may raise eyebrows until one realises that's still 0.8 of an arc second - so its most likely seeing. On a shorter focal length scope you aren't getting the guiding sensitivity that a long focal length SCT requires - in my opinion / experience!
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