RIP the old Super Polaris.
Can anyone sell me an EQ6 cheap?
Looks like I'm going to have to hit the piggy bank, shame though I just got it (the Polaris mount ) polar aligned so well, see the wide field images below, best I've done without guiding. Pentax K5D & 135mm f2.8 piggy backed on my Meade 8" SCT.
I was so happy to see round stars in the images I was just pointing it at the sky and snapping away and then I heard that terrible sound of plastic gears letting go and teeth failing.
Overloading a mount with a small weak drive drive motor and gearbox just doesn't work so unless someone knows or can help with info on replacing the old Meade DS motors with some steppers and an interface that works with the Meade 497 Autostar I guess I'm st#((@d.
I guess I know that the old Polaris mount is only good for wide field shots without some major work and even then it would be marginal. So I'm just thinking out loud here and going through the process of talking myself into spending the dollars on a new mount but the budget really only goes as far as an NEQ6 Pro or similar so if I spend the dollars is the EQ6 the way to go or is there something else out there around the same dollars that's better?
Any help or ideas gratefully received.
Thanks
Nico.