joe aguiar

Correct me if I'm wrong but from your 2nd pic I see your diagonal and focuser are almost touching just a few mm. Wint it be the same regardless if mounted down or to the side? The diagonal and focuser will always be that close. I am wrong or I need my coffee first? Joejaguar

Now I norm dont want to use anything less then a 10 (9 is close) with ep that have small lens or eye relief There are good ep like the radian that are not too expensive if u find used ones,that you can use a 3 4 or 5mm and it has large lens and eye field. But if u only want plossls or super plossls then a with Barlow may get the high power that want. joejaguar

If your mak was made for a alt goto then the bar will be on the side.if it was made for the eq version then the bar is on the bottom. But as other said it doesnt matter it will still work no matter where the focuser knob is. And as up above says use thumb nail screw and move diagonal if it's not in a good angle joejaguar

I agree to for visual that scope and mount fit. It sold like that for many years but to image u may need eq6. Ok heres another thought what about a 8 inch sct its same size but it's only 1/4 length and that makes a big difference with vibrations and easier for the motors in imaging. It's also much lighter then the 200 model. Altho still the 8 inch sct should ride on a heq5 this ota is much easier than what u got now size and weight. So you are better off this way and are much closer to the ideal size weight ratio

Yes upgrades the ep to good quality plossls and a good Barlow if u dont have one. For a 4 inch I would say the 2 filters that will come in handy is first broadband filter and the narrow and filter the other 2 will dim the view too much. Even the NBA one will dim the view alot in a 4 inch scope but there should be a good gain too on nebulas joejaguar

depends on your budjet what kind scope you want? some scope like reflectors need both mirrors to be aligned or views wont be good but refractors don't really need that, so to some this kin may be good to start so you don't have to worry about that atleast do u want to look at the moon and planets? manilly? or that's plus deep sky itels like, nebulas, galaxies, open clusters? also depends I u live in county skies subburbs, or citys skies Joejaguar

ok sound like u got it joe

I agree with allen you have a eq2 with the 130 but that's ok a lot cheaper makers or sellers sell that scope on a eq1 which shouldn't be done, but it lowers the cost for them. a eq2 is not super great for that scope either but its decent. Since you ordered a rigel that will be a good finder, you may just have to upgrade to eps to something like Neil did to the Celestron Omni plossls. They are good (yes theres better but not really needed at the start) just better then the ones that comes with the scope. Now the thing about u not really liking venus the kool thing there is looking and you can see a phase like the moon just a bit smaller. Since its heavy clouded over we cant see any surface details tho. Before trying to collimate it check to see it really needs it. Many scopes hold it very well and can last many months b4 it needs adjusting. If you just carry it from the house to the backyard it can last a yr or more but if you travel a lot with it in the car then it can need adjusting more often. As per the mirror you can take it out once it does need collimation and mark it with those o ring repair paper things. Joejaguar

I 2nd night watch joejaguar

It's a starter scope but u can see some stuff like up about said Theres also several other decent bright stuff to look at In the west sky that bright star is venus try that I recommend getting the book called night watch besides being good it has 20 charts of the best 200 items in sky.also get a planisphere with the book and your set Joejaguar

There should be 6 screws or 3 sets of 2 3 screws tilt the mirror 3 lock it, are u locking them. Then is 2nd mirror aligned in focuser sight. Once done it should hold for many months even more if it's just from inside to backyard If it's taken into car all the time to other sites then all those vibrations can be once a month. But not every session Joejaguar

Maybe diffetent kinda o I never had an issue I used mine since like 98 Joejaguar

To me they are also show piece's I like them on the living room. A small scope probably only needs 20 min cooldown time. I just bring out go back for abit then come out to observe. This is me tho if u rather keep it in shed that's ok. I guess also to me with 4 seasons I just dont like it unprotected even if rain doesn't fall on it, theres dew humidity and frost for long periods of time.im sure keeping it theres 24/7/52 will slowly wear it down faster joejaguar

U dont need the full aperture filter u could save some and get an off axis filter. Or if your cap has the inner cap use that hole Joejaguar

I use hot glue when I make my filters joejaguar

Well my med/large mount that I use 95% is the eq5. Its decent size to weight ratio that can handle most or alot scopes. Altho I did pick up a used eq6 none goto like 3 months ago. To me portability is tied with aperture Joejaguar

wow you really are going big probally didnt think you would when u got the 114 right? but the hobby does that too you the 8" is a really good size and probally as big as u can go with a reflector on a eq mount btw the goto version is 2x the cost u can just get the 8"f/5 on a manual eq5 mount that be half price just a thought joejaguar

me personally i just take the whole thing in one shot but since neil said he will leave mount in garage i think then thats y i said leave rings always on mount. joejaguar

ok heres the video, ps i made this like 2 months ago but it didnt get posted till now and i was gonna post it in like 3 weeks time as i had others to go first, but i thought could help neil https://youtu.be/nY0e1MK2JV4 joejaguar

i guess for me tho if u have only 1 scope its really not that bad using the eq3-2, just open the rings put ota in and tighten the nuts and thats it. joejaguar

Ok I see then here in Canada is not so hard but ya I dont know market in UK Joejaguar

Great stuff allan So Neil up to u what to do then Only downfall is it will be the same cost to buy the vixen bar and new top plate, as just buying a used cg4. Then as I said in last post it's still the aluminium tripod not 1.75inche steel tripod. The tripod alone costs new 225 plus taxes or 100cdn used. Lastly the cg4 will be alot newer than the eq3-2 since that model came out as early as 2000. So Neil up to u what u want to do. Theres no right or wrong just prefrence Ok Neil I will realese the eq3 vs cg4 toinght.look out for the video u should get notice since your a member of my channel. Joejaguar

The nexstar8, 5 etc did need to be pointed north, the newer models se and other names probably dont. Depends what scope u have tho Joejaguar

Have u also tried dealers too? Joejaguar

I know the one u want is smaller at 6 inch so it may take bit less but take cooldown into consideration. Also depends on location. That 7 inch mak was only scope I regret selling joejaguar