[sheeny (Al)]

Originally Posted by Dennis G

I appreciate the advice that you both have provided. Since writing I have had 4 days in the middle wheat belt and until we had a weather change, what I'd have given to have had my scope with me. You could reach up and touch the stars!

Isn't that always the way!

Originally Posted by Dennis G

Question: Using the Celestron 8 inch on the EQ5 (They don't supply a EQ6) and the DMK imager recording into the laptop, can I expect to capture the Orion Nebula for an example? Deep Sky capture?

Yes... but the longest single exposure you can take will be limited by the accuracy of your polar alignment, and the speed the mount tracks at unguided unless you add a guide scope etc. M42 is pretty bright as DSOs go so you can take unguided images of up to several seconds at prime focus if your alignment is good, but for longer shots you will really need to guide.

If you really want to do deep sky stuff, I would recommend the EQ6 to give you the stability you need to run a guide scope as well. The CG-5 will disappoint under that sort of load.

Originally Posted by Dennis G

Question:You both write of a carbin fibre tube? Are these available as a standard unit?

I know the carbon fibre tube is available in the C9.25 and larger scopes. I suggest you ask the supplier if they can get the C8 in carbon fibre and then weigh up the cost difference.

Originally Posted by Dennis G

Question: The Go To facility, you may term this, when the telescope EQ mount is being powered to compensate the earths rotation, while recording for half to a minute, does it require constant manual control or putting it another way , is it stable?

It is pretty stable. The problem with goto drives is that though they are pretty constant, they may vary in speed slightly with temperature, or your alignment will probably not be perfect, or atmospheric refraction will change the rate of apparent motion of the object as it rises or falls in the sky, so guiding is used to correct for these differences between the observed heavens and the drive's speed.

Originally Posted by Dennis G

The cost of the Meade has made it difficult and it looks as if the Celestron on the German EQ 5 will have to satisfy me. I'd appreciate your reply.

Originally Posted by Dennis G

A question I missed to ask. What is the difference between a EQ 5 and a CG5 mount or put another way what is a CG5 mount.

I'm not sure if the CG5 is equivalent to the EQ4 or EQ5. Someone correct me here if I'm wrong, but I think I've read somewhere that the CG5 is equivalent to an EQ4, but I'm relying on memory here so I'm on shaky ground.

It sounds like, from your description of your interests in DSOs that the EQ6 would be my first recommendation for a mount, and a HEQ5 as next best, then maybe an EQ5, followed by the CG5.

Al.