Here is the VC200L on the Sphinx/Starbook with an 80mm Saxon spotter set up for guiding. I use the LPI as a guidecam (and for lunar/planetary imaging), Canon 20d via an F6.3 FR for DSOs. Guidedog for guiding. Just ordered Images Plus.
Thanks Mick, My refractor has gone all red now and is embarrassed.
They certainly don't make them like that anymore. You could leave it set up in a cyclone and it would not topple over. I'm going to miss the deep contrast images when I change over to the reflector. John
Quote:
Originally Posted by mickoking
G,day Astronut,
Love yer refractor, they don't make em like that anymore.
John you have the guidescope attachment I have been dreaming of Is that a standard sphinx attachment or is it custom made. It would be perfect from mounting a 8" or 9.25 sct with an orion ed 80 Guidescope on a Losmandy GM8 and not overburden it. Gary Beal (gbeal) and I talked about exactly the same sort of thing awhile ago, to use a guidescope to replace some of the counterweights and enable us to carry a bigger imaging scope on smaller capacity mounts. That setup on my GM8 would be my perect travel setup.
John - great setup you have there. I've always wanted a Sphinx, they look like a great easy to use, capable mount. I almost bought one but then got my Losmandy GM8 instead. I'm happy with the GM8 but gez the Sphinx still looks good.
How do you find it for imaging? Do they have PEC on it yet? When I was looking there was talk of it being available.
Roger.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnH
Here is the VC200L on the Sphinx/Starbook with an 80mm Saxon spotter set up for guiding. I use the LPI as a guidecam (and for lunar/planetary imaging), Canon 20d via an F6.3 FR for DSOs. Guidedog for guiding. Just ordered Images Plus.
John you have the guidescope attachment I have been dreaming of Is that a standard sphinx attachment or is it custom made. It would be perfect from mounting a 8" or 9.25 sct with an orion ed 80 Guidescope on a Losmandy GM8 and not overburden it. Gary Beal (gbeal) and I talked about exactly the same sort of thing awhile ago, to use a guidescope to replace some of the counterweights and enable us to carry a bigger imaging scope on smaller capacity mounts. That setup on my GM8 would be my perect travel setup.
Where did you get it from ??????
Sphinx is very cool and easy to operate with the Starbook - I particularly like the align as you go capability, lets me get going quick. There is no PEC on the Sphinx yet - however the native PEC is low (I measured 8" approx at 1800m fl) and smooth so it guides out well.
The counterweight shaft mount is a standard Vixen Part - it is mostly for a camera and that is how I use it now - I have had to abandon that approach for the guidescope. It was good for balance without overloading the mount but I found two issues I could not solve the worst was the scope fouling the tripod/mount during slews the other was flexure/lack of rigidity with the spotter hanging off the ALT/AZ adjuster. I am sure it is solvable however I have now gone for over/under, I did manage to avoid going to rings for the main tube by purchasing a mini dovetail system now it looks like this:
I have ordered a meade 80mm/480mmFL APO scope to go on top of my C8 but i'm sick of waiting, & besides I always wanted to try a Mak so I bought this C90 spotter to use as a temporary guidescope & to use as a super telephoto lens. The rings are Losmandy 125mm. The guide cam is a Meade DSI (using autostar SW on a compaq laptop). I also have a toucam (& guidedog). The mount is a Meade LX-75 which works amazingly well. It aligns , drives & guides so i cant complain. I think a more robust mount would not hurt, but i would hate to give up the autostar software & handset - it really works well. I will post some photos soon.
Hi DaveO,
Very nice set-up.
The mount matches your speakers too!!!
I would love a GOTO mount for my 12"!!!
JEALOUS!!!!!!
Now for premium EPs! (The WO's don't count unless they are UWAs!!!!)
Cheers
Doug
Hi DaveO,
Very nice set-up.
The mount matches your speakers too!!!
I would love a GOTO mount for my 12"!!!
JEALOUS!!!!!!
Now for premium EPs! (The WO's don't count unless they are UWAs!!!!)
Cheers
Doug
Oh, there's always more toys to spend your hard earned dollars on! The WO is only a SWAN, not an UWA, but this too shall come!
I just want the rain to stop now so I can move to first light!
About time I updated my posting in here since I have made a few changes.
What was a GS 12" Deluxe Dob is now a monster!
Pic 1: GS f5 12" reflector/dob with John Dobson's Autograph, Cooling fan, Crayford Focuser, Saxon ED80 Auxillary scope with GS right-angle finder with adjustable red-light crosshair illumination, Orion Accufocus electronic focuser, Toucam 840k Pro II, Red Dot Finder.
All perched on top of a montrous restored Home-made Heavy Duty GEM mount, and all computer controlled. (no GoTo)
Boy! That's a mouth full!!
Pic 2: The guts of the Mount! To give you an idea of the size of this beast, this section sits at about eye level when standing next to the mount.
![[1ponders]'s Avatar](../vbiis/customavatars/avatar45_9.gif){kind=avatar}
Is that a standard sphinx attachment or is it custom made. It would be perfect from mounting a 8" or 9.25 sct with an orion ed 80 Guidescope on a Losmandy GM8 and not overburden it. Gary Beal (gbeal) and I talked about exactly the same sort of thing awhile ago, to use a guidescope to replace some of the counterweights and enable us to carry a bigger imaging scope on smaller capacity mounts. That setup on my GM8 would be my perect travel setup.
I've always wanted a Sphinx, they look like a great easy to use, capable mount. I almost bought one but then got my Losmandy GM8 instead. I'm happy with the GM8 but gez the Sphinx still looks good.
The scope (and rain) arrives
