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Old 08-09-2007, 02:04 PM
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OneOfOne (Trevor)
Meteor & fossil collector

OneOfOne is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bentleigh
Posts: 1,386
Thong bought my C8N-GT (from Melbourne), so it's a Celestron 8" F5 on a CG5 mount.

Initially, I used to plug the cigarette lighter socket into the car, but after a while you get sick of that. I think it draws a bit under an amp when slewing, much less when tracking. I bought a Celestron power pack and then a "jump start" battery from Auto Barn, which will run it for several hours. Initially I wouldn't worry too much about aligning, just face 10 or so degrees left of magnetic south. Make sure the latitude scale is set for Adelaide, Melbourne is about 38 degrees, just adjust the screws to raise it up a bit.

If you just want to have a look around, you can bypass the alignment process by selecting "Last alignment" instead of the other options. The goto will be way out, but you can then just slew it around to something for a look. If someone can help you out, it won't take long to get the knack of using it. I didn't actually use the scope properly until I had used it 3 or 4 times.

You will get there, not as quick to use as a Dob (of course), but once you have used it a couple of times, it will be easy.
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