eq8 is here - Page 11

Tandum (Robin) · #**201** 14-06-2013, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneCosmos

Can anyone easily grab these measurements for me?
Chris

I see 900mm between the legs where they touch the ground and they are close to 650mm long. Height will depend on how many weet-bix you had for breakfast as to how far you can lift the pier

OneCosmos (Chris) · #**202** 14-06-2013, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tandum

I see 900mm between the legs where they touch the ground and they are close to 650mm long. Height will depend on how many weet-bix you had for breakfast as to how far you can lift the pier

Thanks Robin. I understand the height will vary between setups, but I would work on the principal of the lowest I can get away with. By that I mean the lowest I can have it without the telescope hitting something on its travels.

The telescope is the 152mm f8 but with camera etc. it extends beyond the 1200mm. It doesn't need to be an exact number.

I heard today in fact that I should have mine by Monday (not quite as exciting as Friday though

).

Tandum (Robin) · #**203** 14-06-2013, 11:53 AM

This one is currently 880mm from the floor to the top of the pier and there is 230mm of pier below the clamp. I don't have the leveling feet on it and they are 75mm tall unextended.

And this looks like the spare power plug I need.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=PS2014

OneCosmos (Chris) · #**204** 14-06-2013, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by

And this looks like the spare power plug I need.
[URL

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=PS2014[/URL]

Thanks. What is that plug needed for?

Occulta (Chris) · #**205** 14-06-2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tandum

And this looks like the spare power plug I need.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=PS2014

What is the diameter of the black part of the plug that came with the mount? My understanding is that the mount plugs are smaller.

The Jaycar ones are [in olde measurements] 1/2" diameter measured around the black plastic.

Tandum (Robin) · #**206** 14-06-2013, 02:41 PM

This ones 1/2" by the looks. Good I need another lead.

OneCosmos (Chris) · #**207** 14-06-2013, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tandum

This ones 1/2" by the looks. Good I need another lead.

Still don't know what this is for or if I will need one

Tandum (Robin) · #**208** 14-06-2013, 03:40 PM

You probably won't. I want a permanent power plug wired into the dome and I think houghy was looking for a spare.

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #**209** 14-06-2013, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tandum

Seems to be a bit of slop in Dec on this one.

But it's cleared a bit and I have pempro running.

I'm pretty sure It needs to know the worm period?

[edit]
Found the info, 435 teeth, here's a result. +/- 2.2 by the looks.

Thats hillarious - It's already 30 times better than my Meade was and thats without PPEC

Tandum (Robin) · #**210** 14-06-2013, 06:08 PM

I had image scale wrong. It was set to 1 it really is .93. Doing another run now. It's going to be better than 2.2

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #**211** 14-06-2013, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tandum

I had image scale wrong. It was set to 1 it really is .93. Doing another run now. It's going to be better than 2.2

Sounds promising!. you going to put the EQ8 on the pier

rob288 (Robert) · #**212** 14-06-2013, 06:48 PM

Are any of you going to mount the EQ8 on a pier? Would be interested to know your thoughts on how it might be done, I am concerned about the center bolt that comes up into the mount.

jcm (John) · #**213** 14-06-2013, 06:56 PM

Hi All,

Yep, I am another UK amateur astronomer closely following this thread.

I do hope this mount turns out to be a winner and I get my hands on one before I am too old to lift it

John

pmrid (Peter) · #**214** 14-06-2013, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob288

Are any of you going to mount the EQ8 on a pier? Would be interested to know your thoughts on how it might be done, I am concerned about the center bolt that comes up into the mount.

I've modified my pier in anticipation of my EQ8 turning up on Monday.

I have modified a top adjustment plate that was previously made to suit/fit an EQ6 - it has a central well and a bolt hole in the bottom - I enlarged that a little and bought a straight M12x75mm bolt that will do the job. If you're making your own from flat plate without any well in the centre, a M12x50mm would do the job.

I also drilled a couple of holes in the wings where the azimuth securing bolts will go (80mm out from the centre) and another hole 54mm behind the centre where I had installed an azimuth adjustment pillar made out of an old galvanised bolt. It's secured by a bolt above and one below the plate. The one on top I have ground down so it is pretty thin and also ground the sides so it is much smaller in overall diameter. That way it should not foul the mount when it goes on top.

Should do the trick.

I'll post some pics tomorrow. I'm imaging at the moment and can't use a flash in the obs for the rest of tonight.

Peter

naskies (Dave) · #**215** 14-06-2013, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tandum

I had image scale wrong. It was set to 1 it really is .93. Doing another run now. It's going to be better than 2.2

Wow, that's some nice performance. This is raw PE (no PEC curve applied), I assume? I saw the PE curve from your earlier post... looks very smooth.

Tandum (Robin) · #**216** 14-06-2013, 09:44 PM

Yep Raw. With the correct image scale I got 4.38 peak to peak and with correction turned on I get 2.18 peak to peak.

I still think there is a little slop in dec, I'll look at that tomorrow.

RobF (Rob) · #**217** 14-06-2013, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tandum

Yep Raw. With the correct image scale I got 4.38 peak to peak and with correction turned on I get 2.18 peak to peak.

I still think there is a little slop in dec, I'll look at that tomorrow.

Sounds like a dud Robin - I'll come and get it tomorrow if you like?
I haven't drilled the pier plate for the EQ6 yet - should be able to set it up for a new EQ8 ok......

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #**218** 14-06-2013, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribuck

Hi All,

New to ice in space and have been following this thread with great interest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcm

Hi All,

Yep, I am another UK amateur astronomer closely following this thread.

Hi to Rich and John, welcome to the South side - and as a Expat Geordie myself, I have to let you into the bad news. Not only did we get these scopes first, but the sky is dark and saggitarius is overhead!

(for the locals, where I grew up, Antares was near the horizon, and Saggitarius a myth!)

ribuck (Richard) · #**219** 15-06-2013, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

Hi to Rich and John, welcome to the South side - and as a Expat Geordie myself, I have to let you into the bad news. Not only did we get these scopes first, but the sky is dark and saggitarius is overhead!

(for the locals, where I grew up, Antares was near the horizon, and Saggitarius a myth!)

Aye, and I supposed you're also gannin to remind me that it's much warmer over in Oz as well lol. Well this Geordie fella is is gutted that i'm in the wrong Newcastle on the Wrong side of the world, or I would be able to get my hands on the shiny EQ8.

Over here, the main European distributor OVL, isn't giving anyone any info on release dates or prices, so none of the suppliers can even take pre-orders.

I'm moving to new house in Whitley Bay in 2 weeks, so hopefully there might be a shiny new EQ8 ordered, to go with the new house.

Really impressed with the new 2 arc secs peak to peak measurements, can't wait to see guided performance. Also interested in seeing how good the pointing accuracy is.

Does the mount have it's own polar alignment routine ?

Rich.

ribuck (Richard) · #**220** 15-06-2013, 02:54 AM

Blooming typical, as soon as I say that the distributors are tight lipped, one of the uk suppliers has just posted the UK price of £2595 for just the mount head and no tripod. if you want the tripod it's a crazy £795....are they kidding lol, cheaper to buy a pier, especially seeing it's not really portable.

Looks like, Sept-Oct time at the Earliest for the UK

Not sure why the UK has to wait another 3-4 months, i'm guessing just not enough mounts to go round.

Rich.