Nigella Bryant

My then ror observatory was broken into around 2001 and my 12inch GPS stolen, it was obviously a targeted thing, bolt cutters were used to gain entry while we were on holiday. Thankfully it was all insured and had a quick settlement for new for old policy that I had. I've since moved years ago from there and now have a pulsar dome in my current situation. Last year our neighbour lit up there's and our back fence, conifer tree's. It was a huge blaze from their bbq, fire engine's the lot. We were out there hosepipe on the sheds and fibreglass observatory, they were steaming with the heat. The plus side is I now have a good easterly view where huge conifers used to be. Still glad I'm insured though. My dome is also alarmed. Moral of the story is get insurance. It's sometimes covered under outbuildings and contents but check the values as you might need to up that.

Hiya, never had any problems with wind, except for too many beritos, lol. As I'd said b4, my current set up of an 12inch f4 1200mm 4ft scope on an neq6 performs well but I kmow it's well over load and with an option to upgrade to a 16inch a new mount is overdue.

Surely it wouldn't act much of a sail considering it's housed in an observatory dome. The only huge momentum would be while slewing to an object, perhaps two or three at most during a nights imaging?

An f4 I think 1558mm in length. 5ft 3in in old money I think. At the mo, my 12inch f4 is 1200mm or 4tf.

I'm 99% sure I'm going to press the pay button on the CEM120 which I think will be good combo for my 12inch f4 Newtonian and guidescope @20kg load and future proof if I decide next year to upgrade to a 16inch newtononian @32kg load. Thanks everyone who's chipped in, it's been very useful.

I'd only be looking at the non encoder at what I can afford but with guiding would that still be good if it's not 100% beta tested. I'm really taken with the Cem120.

I have considered the Ogem as it's only £150 more than a CEM120 but I'm weary as there's literally nothing out there about them, apart from their own Web page. I did email them asking for more information about the mount and all I got back was an obtuse reiteration of my question. "what would I like to know" da, a download on spec, a pdf brochure of an actual mount. Their website seems to contain mostly computer graphic simulations, etc. So I'm now weary about that. Wasn't a fantastic promotion of their mount.

Cus in light polluter skies more shorter image's stacked are better than less longer one's. I saw a convincing talk on this recently.

My top price to spend is£3500

That's what I was thinking, along with USB 2 and 3 connection, GPS and WiFi built in. Keep thought's coming, lol.

Hi all, wanting some opinions on mounts. It will be the last mount I'll buy having turned 60 last year and retired. I currently run an OO12inch f4 Newtonian on a neq6. It's at the top of weight capacity for that mount at 20kg with guidescope, etc. I did rebuild and tune the neq6 with rowan belt mod, upgraded bearings on worm gears, added the upgrade counter weight bar plus weights. It is sweet as a nut and after two or even three star alightment puts the object within the field of view of my Canon 1000dm camera. I can also do unguided images for 45 to 60 secs which is enough in Mt light polluted sky. That's the background. Now I know my mount is way over capacity for imaging and in the next couple of years before I go into the heavens myself I'd like to own a 16inch VX f4 Newtonian. So I'm thinking of going for a new mount this year for keeps and I'm looking at either an EQ8 or a CEM120. The cem120 would be at the top of my price range. I'd love opinions please. BTW, telescope is housed in an observatory a 2.7m pulsar dome.

One image, unguided exposure for 30secs, right? I can do that as a newbie lol.

Yeah, seems bright and big but took me ages to process and lot's of looking at YouTube instructions, lol. I know it's far from brilliant but a start. Yes guiding not perfect not aligned with pole star correctly and unguided sub's. I love the newt but a steep learning curve to be honest with that and getting the mount right, Neq6. All equipment is second hand, lol.

This is my first DSO, taken in January with my Canon 1000dm and 12inch f4 newt

I bought a second hand 60mm supposed to have been in good condition but when I received it I looked it over and the blue UV/IR had two large spots and the rest was foggy when looked at in bright light. I was disappointed in the seller. However I sent it off to Telescope House UK and they examined it changed the blue filter and all for £30 so pleased. As the scope was half the price of a new one I'm still happy. All my thanks to Telescope House and Bresser UK.