EQ6 Twin dovetail plate system

[sejanus (Gavin)]

Well I just put it on the scope to have a look. Looks decent enough and fairly strong/well made.

It won't get any real use though until 2nd tube arrives. I have some extra counterweights that I'll need to put on when I balance it with 2 tubes.

Silly question though - when doing the 3 star alignments, does it matter to the controller that the actual tube is not on the dead center of the mount when it calculates where objects are?

I'd think it'd be exactly the same as before as it'll just work out it's map based on the distance you have slewn the scope when picking alignment stars, but if someone can confirm for this idiot that would be good

[Doug]

No it would make no difference, you might have what the manual calls 'cone error to worry about though. Are they 'casidy plates or some other??
Doug

[h0ughy (David)]

OK I have the same setup, centre int he imaging scope and align from that, the guide scope will be finding gide stars anyway. that way when you goto it will be in the imaging scopes view the other will be parallel but offset slightly. I use a intes 5" mac cass for the guidescope

[sejanus (Gavin)]

cool thanks for that houghy.

doug - i got it from http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Whats the exact brand/model of those, I am thinking of the same sort of setup....

[sejanus (Gavin)]

astroman go to http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/ and call him, thats the only sort there. just tell him you have a eq6 and want side by side dovetail plates.

the pricing was

Heavy Duty DoveTail $135
Detachable Side by Side Mounts $90 each

pretty expensive for what it is but it is pretty well made

[anthony2302749]

Nice piece of machining, I picked mine up at the VicSouth Star Party. For me I have an ED120SW on one side and a ED80SW on the other, mounted on an EQ6. Pointing accuracy on both is quite good after a one star alignment. This whole package will be set up in an obsevatory as an astrophotograpy package soon.

Attached is an image I took sometime ago of NGC2070 through the ED120 with a 350D and autoguides with a ST-7 through the ED80.

Anthony

[33South (Chris)]

Great setup, have to say that, its the same as mine.

But with ED80 and Shywatcher Promak180 side by side on an EQ6

See pics from snakevalley nov 2006, and will be using it at Lostock

[h0ughy (David)]

look here for mine