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Visual Observing

Suggestions for first Equatioral Mount
Ron Eberhardt
6/26/2024 10:49 AM

I have a Celestron Evolution 8" SCT with mount and have recently acquired a small refractor. I am looking to purchase a GEM that would be able to hold both primarily for Visual with a possibility of EAA or beginning Astrophotography. I want this mount to be somewhat portable as I live in Bortle 8 skies and have to travel to get to a dark site. I am 68 years old so weight of the mount is a factor. I am also open to the strain wave type of mount, however it seems more focused on AP. Any input would be appreciated. Budget is flexible although I tend to land on the frugal side.

StarmanDan
6/26/2024 12:08 PM
The strain wave mounts will give you the best mount weight to payload weight capacity ratio, but are pricey. I use an Orion Atlas with a setup very similar to yours and it works well but is very heavy. If you don't plan tobuse both at the same time, you can get away with a ZWO AM3.


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Posted by: Ron R Eberhardt on 6/26/2024 at 10:49 AM
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I have a Celestron Evolution 8" SCT with mount and have recently acquired a small refractor.  I am looking to purchase a GEM that would be able to hold both primarily for Visual with a possibility of EAA or beginning Astrophotography.  I want this mount to be somewhat portable as I live in Bortle 8 skies and have to travel to get to a dark site.  I am 68 years old so weight of the mount is a factor.  I am also open to the strain wave type of mount, however it seems more focused on AP.  Any input would be appreciated.  Budget is flexible although I tend to land on the frugal side.


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Ron Eberhardt
6/27/2024 4:03 PM

Dan, Thank you for the response. I have been looking at the strain wave offerings from Ioptron and will continue my research. Since I do not have an equatorial mount the strain wave is not a duplication of what I already have. I hope to see you at the upcoming members star party.

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