Go Back   IceInSpace > Beginners Start Here > Beginners Equipment Discussions
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 06-12-2016, 01:25 PM
brianholbrook (Bri)
Registered User

brianholbrook is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Posts: 8
Guiding a Star Adventurer Mount

Hi All, does anybody out there use the guide port on their Star Adventurer?

I'm trying to put some Bank of Australia vouchers together to purchase a heavy mount to future proof myself. I'm currently up against the old issue of what to do first?
Do i:
1 - Sell the Star Adventurer and look for a HEQ6?
2 - Keep the SA and buy a second hand guidescope/cam etc.

I'm not looking at putting a heavy scope initially, probably just a DSLR with 500mm lens for now until i figure out which way i want to go. I'm still (relatively) active so lumping a big mount around isn't too big of an issue for me, so the portability of the SA isn't really a selling point for me.

Looking for advice, guidance, wisdom and possibly a little banter :-)

Apologies if this has already been posted somewhere, couldn't find it in the search.

Cheers
Bri
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-12-2016, 04:23 PM
Camelopardalis's Avatar
Camelopardalis (Dunk)
Drifting from the pole

Camelopardalis is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 5,476
Bri, depends on what direction you want to head in for imaging. An EQ6 has about 20kg payload.

At 500mm you'll need to do a decent polar alignment, which may/or not be doable with the SA. The bigger mounts will also allow you to guide Dec as well as RA.

HEQ5 should be sufficient though, and they're not that heavy...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-12-2016, 04:45 PM
brianholbrook (Bri)
Registered User

brianholbrook is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Posts: 8
Thanks for that, understand that the HEQ5 will be fine. Just trying to future proof whatever route i go down. Figure if i can do it soon then whatever i mount should be fine.

Thinking i may get rid of the Star Adventurer and put it towards the NEQ6, it has hardly been used in the 12 months i have owned it anyway :-)

Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-12-2016, 05:42 PM
pluto's Avatar
pluto (Hugh)
Astro Noob

pluto is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,982
I have tried guiding with my Star Adventurer with mixed success.
I wrote a bit about it here: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=147145
And here: https://hughsblog.wordpress.com/equipment/

I haven't used it in a while but my conclusion at the time was that it was a bit hit and miss but worked reasonably well when the mount was well aligned and well balanced. When I do use that mount with the WO71 next I don't plan on guiding and I'll just stick to short exposures - mainly because I got this mini setup so that it could be simple and fun.
If I use it with some wider lenses, 200mm and wider, then I might give guiding another go and see how long I can get my exposures. It was guiding it was just that some subs had slightly eggy stars - with a wider lens, and a lighter load, I'm sure it would guide well.

Guide camera was an ASI120MC using PHD2.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 05:54 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement