Good Evening All
Well I am back from the shops and I now have all the items I need (listed in Mike's article) to clean my mirrors. I am almost tempted to do them tonight (1900 h CST now), but I think I will avoid the temptation to rush the job!
I have also just realised that I can't do it tomorrow as I am at the Footy, watching the Power beat the Swans. You are all probably wondering why the crazy icon isn't at the end of that sentence
.
So what I have decided to talk about instead in this entry is my big plan!
As I said in the first entry I did have something else in mind other than a general family telescope.
Well, I have something to confess to you all that might come as a surprise to some of you. I have a very serious case of "Aperture Fever"!
Unfortunately I feel that I have reached the useful capacity of my EQ6 Pro mount (for imaging) without going OTT. The largest scope I use on my EQ6 is a C9.25 as well as a range of smaller refractors. Now I know what a lot of you are thinking, your'e probably going to say "I use my EQ6 for a far greater load than that" or "I have seen some guy on the internet who carries a 12 inch Newtonian on his".
I agree, the mount probably could do so much more and I also see people do it all the time, but you see I don't have bottomless money pits as pockets and I want (sorry I need) the EQ6 to be around for a long time as I can't afford to upgrade to anything with a greater load capacity. Plus its fun dreaming day and night about a G11 or a Paramount MX (until you wake up that is!
).
I have sought advice from people that I respect in relation to pushing the EQ6 that little bit harder (with a 12" Newtonian or RC Astrograph) but I think I need to come up with another answer.
So here it is. The mount that came with this appears really heavy duty and weighs a tonne, I think it could probably carry a 12" - 14" OTA easily. It has got me to thinking, how hard would it be to make this GOTO or at a minimum motor driven for imaging purposes. I have been looking on the net for a little while now and I am seeing alot of people attempt and even succeed at this.
That's where I need everyone's help
, please. Could you have a look at the pics below and give me some ideas on how to achieve this, what to possibly use and where to go. Just one thing I ask you to keep in mind, I need to do this on a budget!
The mount moves fairly well, it does have some rust on the inside of the cyclinder. It needs some cleaning and is void of any grease whatsoever. The saddle is removable and could quite easily have a different saddle or puck put on it.
Thanks to everyone in advance, I look forward to your replies.
Clear Skies
Gav