Portable Goto mount

[loki78 (Jon)]

Looking for a portable goto i can use which will also be suitable for my lunt solar scope when imaging. Obviously the EQ6pro is not exactly portable, but with that in mind, i don't want something that's close enough to that which i already have its pointless. Also, i dont want to spent the roof. So... Any suggestions? I have read what I can on the various iOptron cubes and I see wildly mixed reviews.

[blink138 (Pat)]

my brother got a celestron advanced gt (cg5?) from the US for under $800 australian delivered
it seems like a very capable mount with very good accuracy and a good payload capability
pat

[loki78 (Jon)]

The cheapest I could see the CG5 was about $650US with shipping $300-$400 :/

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by loki78

Looking for a portable goto i can use which will also be suitable for my lunt solar scope when imaging. Obviously the EQ6pro is not exactly portable, but with that in mind, i don't want something that's close enough to that which i already have its pointless. Also, i dont want to spent the roof. So... Any suggestions? I have read what I can on the various iOptron cubes and I see wildly mixed reviews.

If you're solar imaging through the Lunt, you won't need guiding capability or, for that matter, goto functionality. So, what is wrong with a simple AltAz mount with hand controls? If you're doing solar visually, simple hand controls will suffice also.

Even a stable camera tropod would work.

Peter

[andrew2008]

Originally Posted by blink138

my brother got a celestron advanced gt (cg5?) from the US for under $800 australian delivered
it seems like a very capable mount with very good accuracy and a good payload capability
pat

How did he manage this? I'd be all over it.

[loki78 (Jon)]

Yeah I was thinking that too

Originally Posted by andrew2008

How did he manage this? I'd be all over it.

[loki78 (Jon)]

Mainly so it ends up being useful for other things and I'm not limiting myself by spending money on a mount that I can only or will only use when solar imaging (which won't be a huge chunk of my time)

Originally Posted by pmrid

If you're solar imaging through the Lunt, you won't need guiding capability or, for that matter, goto functionality. So, what is wrong with a simple AltAz mount with hand controls? If you're doing solar visually, simple hand controls will suffice also.

Even a stable camera tropod would work.

Peter

[Poita (Peter)]

I have a little cube if you want to borrow it to see what you think of them.

-P

[loki78 (Jon)]

Thanks for the kind offer Peter, I may at some point take you up on it. Can I ask which cube model do you have? Also, what have you typically used it with in the past and what sort of limitations have you found?

Originally Posted by Poita

I have a little cube if you want to borrow it to see what you think of them.

-P

[loki78 (Jon)]

Or if anyone else can offer an answer to that question before i contemplate getting one?

[rolls05 (Roland)]

Astrotrack? Brothers got one .Dead accurate. Folds up about the size of your forearm. Holds about 15 kilo I believe. Sturdy tripod and good to go. Not cheap . Vixen polarie is a lot cheaper but nowhere near the weight Carrying ability. Just saying. Go the Breakers.