Posts Made By: Alex McConahay

THe SUper Polaris is a wonderful mount. However, you have to ask yourself what you might be giving up to use it. (Dollars, goto, etc.)

Unless you are doing astrophotography, there is no need for a premium mount. You may be perfectly happy with one of the many mounts that are styled after the Super Polaris. None of them can match the Super Polaris in machining and "feel." But some of them have goto, and all of them cost less (in general). To add motors to a Super Polaris will cost $170 for the cheapo's (both axes). and $250 or more for those of a quality to match the SP.

Why not go for one of the many clones. CG-5's of an early generation can be had for probably the low hundred dollar range. With motors maybe $150-200 (I have not checked these prices.) For maybe $250 you can get an LXD 55. ANd for more, you can have an LXD 75--both with Autostar goto.

None of these clones will satisfy for astrophotography, and none of them feel as good as a Vixen Super Polaris. But all will carry a TV 85 with ease, especially if you beef up the tripod/head.

Alex

By the way--why do you want a GEM? What advantage does it have over your alt-az?

Alex

Congratulations on a rig that runs so perfectly!

If your pictures are already aligned, then there is no need to align, I should think.

I do find it hard to believe there is such an mount out there, but since you have one, I guess I'll just have to agree with you.

Alex

The act of touching the focuser to adjust it induces vibration that upsets focus. Therefore, there is an andvantage to electric focusers. Whether it is enough to justify the cost depends on you.

ALex

Okay--I tried it. Pretty much a waste of time. They just were not close enough to get good image scale. Plus I did not have enough time to do it right--(I was trying to sneak it in real quick after a meeting).

I used a TV85, with a Powermate 2.5 and a Canon 20D.

Layered a 1/4 sec exposure on top of a 1/80 exposure, then erased the area around Venus on the upper layer to let the shorter Venus exposure show through.

Nice learning experience, but won't get printed and put on a wall!

Alex

Dave,

Nice images, and good souveniers. However, I can say that despite our best efforts (and those of my astro-imaging buddies) that this event was definitely better visually!!!

Alex

Do you have the Sky or Cartes Du Ciel?

Alex

Oh, by the way, it is about opposite the sun right about now, so well placed for observing if you plan to do so.

Alex

Enlarge the four corners of the picture, and put them in the same screen so you can compare the direction of drift. You will see, I think, that not all stars "drift" the same way. The coma points slightly differently in the four corners. Therefore, it is not just mount problems.

Alex

If you are just starting, just use what you have.

I would strongly suggest that, although there are a number of eyepieces designed to help one attach a digicam to a scope, the top end results of this type of shot is just not worth it.

Look at the "galleries" of people who use this method.....You just do not find many really good photos. You do see a lot of "Prettty good for a digicam....." But no real flat out great photos.

Don't mean to be discuoraging--get what you can with existing equipmenht. Just don't invest a lot of time and money into this particular type of photgraphy. You can get pretty good moons and sunspots, but not much memorable else.

Alex