New and dumb!

[Gjn200 (Graham)]

Hi all.

Well as I wait for the posty with my new toy I've been reading and watching what I can on setting the GEM. It all seems straight forward apart from the the bit when it says lock the azi axis. I'll explain more, so the mount is now set to SCP and only the RA and Dec axis free. How do i get to look north (Saturn atm) without rotating the entire mount through 180 on the azimuth?

I am sure I am missing something blindingly simple!

G.

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

You can't be dumb I have been trying to get the hang of a GEM for 6 months and still haven't got the hang of it and some of what you said in your post I didn't quite understand. So you are definately not dumb

[cookie8 (Vincent)]

Hi Graham
Welcome to IIS
I am sure you will find this site friendly and helpful. As to the GEM.You need to have the right counterweight at the right position to balance the scope. Its essential. With the axis pointing to roughly SCP, release both dec and RA lock and "twist" (thats the only word I can think of) the scope until it point to north where Saturn is. You might find the counter-weight bar almost horizontal now. Lock both axis and take over by slow motion control.

Cheers

Vincent

[leon]

No one is Dumb here, we just ask unusual questions, and we all had to start at the beginning.

Leon

[Brian W (Brian)]

Originally Posted by Gjn200

Hi all.

Well as I wait for the posty with my new toy I've been reading and watching what I can on setting the GEM. It all seems straight forward apart from the the bit when it says lock the azi axis. I'll explain more, so the mount is now set to SCP and only the RA and Dec axis free. How do i get to look north (Saturn atm) without rotating the entire mount through 180 on the azimuth?

I am sure I am missing something blindingly simple!

G.

Nope you are not dumb but you have entered the learning curve. Eventually it will all make sense.

Hang in it is worth it.
Brian