Thread: Autoguiding
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  #16  
Old 07-01-2007, 09:38 AM
Dennis
Dazzled by the Cosmos.

Dennis is offline
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 11,832
Here is a link to a web page showing how someone converted their EQ3-2 into a GoTo mount.

Of interest are the following comments:

May 2003: This setup is a very nice economical portable GOTO system for visual observing. BUT it is only right to point out that the EQ3-2 mount, although sturdy, is not a High Precision instrument. Periodic Error is quite high at around 70 arc-secs peak to peak, and a little jumpy as well. Not really suitable for long focal length long exposure astrophotography. As a wide field camera mount, particularly piggybacked using the Stellarvue (or whatever telescope is on the mount) as a guide scope, it should serve well.

Added later (2005!) Periodic Error Control is now available for the Autostar, although the training is lost unless the mount is PARKed. But this can reduce the periodic error to +/- 10 arc-seconds or better, so considerably improves the long exposure capabilities of the mount.

Auto guiding with a PE of ±10 arc secs seems feasible, if the gear errors are smooth.

Cheers

Dennis
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