Re: equatorial mount

Have you considered an equatorial platform. You can get one here suitable for your 10" dob for $480:

http://www.roundtableplatforms.com/default.php

ROBERT MOORE said:

WOW Thank for your help I did not know anything about EQ. Platforms but after look at that site it just may be the way to go...... what is involved in the seting up of an EQ.platform?

Bob

Not much, especially if you're just going to be using it visually, and not expecting to do any long exposure photography. Just set it on some level ground (use a bubble level to make sure) and point it towards the north celestial pole. Set your scope on top of it and turn it on. That's it.

Since equatorial platforms can't rotate more than 15 degrees or so, they can only track for about an hour, after which you release a clutch or lift the top platform off and return it to the starting postion (it depends on the method of design). Then you just start over again. It only takes a few seconds.

Jeff