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Post by Rick in NWArk on Apr 25, 2016 13:28:16 GMT
After a frustrating night at the event where I again could not get StarSense to get aligned when I put the VRC8 on it, my mount head took a tumble during disassembly.
Dec motor assembly busted. Now it just goes back and forth about 15 degrees continually.
I guess I could stick a creepy head on it and use it as a halloween prop.
*sigh*
Maybe EQ mounts are just not good for outreach events. It does take a bit to get it polar aligned etc. What to do now???
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Post by davy on Apr 25, 2016 13:33:27 GMT
Get a skywatcher neq6..
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Apr 25, 2016 13:40:10 GMT
Davy, I'm worried that I will still be sitting there trying to get it polar aligned and by the time I'm ready everyone will have left.
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RIP AVX
Apr 25, 2016 14:15:34 GMT
via mobile
Post by davy on Apr 25, 2016 14:15:34 GMT
Hi rick ,just now im doing my testing from the flat,so polar alignment is a no no, im lucky I can do a one star alignment given the fov from the flat window.I just do I think its aligned job with Google sky chart on my phone then do my brief testing on the moon,I do this with the alt az allview and eq3,im working towards guiding the eq3 to let me do ap and av astronomy,to be honest I dont know whats quicker, saving for the heq5 just now..usual with astronomy ,,,no one scope or mount does all
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 14:31:08 GMT
Rick, Sorry to read about your mount damage. I love my equatorial mounts, however my middle name is Jobe and like the biblical character, I have a great deal of patience. I do however have to admit that my daughter routinely gets her alt-az double fork mounted C-11 up and observes several objects while I'm still getting setup and aligned. For a permanent observatory, I will definitely stick with my G-11, but for out reach events, an alt-az mounted 8" SC or RC scope is hard to beat. I'll probably get one in the near future as my "grab and go" setup and leave the 10" RC on the G-11 in the observatory. Modern video cameras have really good sensitivity such that field rotation is not as much an issue except for really faint DSOs where you need longer exposures. With the advent of live image stacking and star registration, life is getting simpler.
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Post by Dragon Man on Apr 25, 2016 17:28:34 GMT
After a frustrating night at the event where I again could not get StarSense to get aligned when I put the VRC8 on it, my mount head took a tumble during disassembly. Dec motor assembly busted. Now it just goes back and forth about 15 degrees continually. I guess I could stick a creepy head on it and use it as a halloween prop. *sigh* Maybe EQ mounts are just not good for outreach events. It does take a bit to get it polar aligned etc. What to do now??? OUCH!!! not good Rick
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Apr 25, 2016 18:42:28 GMT
Tim,
I was thinking the same thing yesterday... maybe an 8" Evolution; I guess they make 9.25s too.
I've been looking for a 12" GPS LX200 but they are hard to find on the used market.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Apr 25, 2016 18:43:22 GMT
Ken,
I've been looking for dec motor kits or examples of people changing that out... maybe I can salvage it one of these days.
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bobbycloud
Member
Posts: 53
home town/country: Odessa, TX United States
time zone gmt +/-: -6 Central
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Post by bobbycloud on Apr 26, 2016 23:53:36 GMT
Rick I have a second 2003 model 12" LX 200 GPS that I would part with. Has Peterson mods on gears, focuser, tripod legs. Mount/tripod usage in a Jim's wheely bar due to bottom/middle center spreader assembly gone. Has electronic focuser. OTA is de-ford at present I was using it on the LX850 mount. also have the newer Meade Super X wedge. I was going to put it on Ebay but did not want all the hassle with shipping etc.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Apr 27, 2016 13:37:14 GMT
Bobby, I've been looking for a forked one and I've come to the conclusion that I need something smaller for the upcoming outreach events and that the 12" would be too heavy for repeated setup and take down. Maybe for a Star Party of multiple days and if I had a rolly cart at home.
I've decided to go down the Evolution path right now. At some point the wife and I will find a bit of land out from the city with more open skies and then I can get some serious size. I really like what I hear about the LX850. It may be my obs mount in the future.
At least I'll have a chance to do a review for everyone. 9.25" Evolution should be on its way soon and I'll be back in business.
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Post by Dragon Man on Apr 27, 2016 15:08:32 GMT
. . . . At some point the wife and I will find a bit of land out from the city with more open skies and then I can get some serious size. . . . . . . . and the obligatory Veggie garden
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Apr 27, 2016 15:28:05 GMT
Oh yes... and the chicken coops and now I think its bees, too.
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Post by davy on Apr 27, 2016 16:16:07 GMT
Gett a grip the pair of you,,big observatory first,then a greenhouse,,so if you get a bit peckish during you time in obs you can nip into the greenhouse for a handful of tomatoes :-)
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