down grade so to speak?

[Daniel-K]

ok i have a HEQ5 pro synscan mount and i mount a 200p on it and as im getting into AP im thinking i add a ST80 a guide cam and a dslr am i pushing my mount too much?

so my question is should i go down to the 150pds? to save weight?

i would like your veiws (theres a 150pds in the for sale section and im tempted)

but im so use to having the 8inch newt will i regret it?

[BertUK]

i would think the better option if you already have the 200p is to upgrade your mount to say the NEQ6 as you might regret downgrading in aperture later on,the other option is to make a steel pier like i did,i could hang an elephant on this and theres no movement .

if you want all the specs for the mounting plate i can supply them,it took me and a friend about 2 hours to make and the fitting parameters are the same for the EQ5 as they are for the HEQ5.

[steppenwolf]

You will be right on the edge of the mount's operational envelope with the 200P and ST80.

The first rule of AP is Mount. The second rule is MOUNT and the third rule is M O U N T. I think you are approaching the problem from slightly the wrong angle - the HEQ5 would be fine with a couple of 80mm refractors so that would be a great solution but if you want to use larger telescopes then a heavier duty mount would be a better bet - I am not sure that the 150 is the right way to go.

Think carefully about the sort of objects that you want to image - if you like nebulae then an HEQ5 and a wider FOV instrument like a small refractor would be a good choice. If you are more interested in galaxies and planetary nebulae then a longer focal length instrument on a more substantial mount would be a good bet.

[Daniel-K]

funds wont allow me to upgrade my mount so if i did build a pier would that help me out that much?

[BertUK]

it all comes down to how much weight your mount can take,the EQ5 will take 9kgs,the HEQ5 will take 18kgs,my pier will comfortably take both these weights combined without any movement whatsoever.

[Daniel-K]

see the thing is im moving soon and the wife has agreed for an obsy so im thinking with it being shielded from the wind i might be ok but i know i really should have a neq6 but cant afford it

[steppenwolf]

A solid pier will outperform a tripod base but this alone will not be enough to 'beef up' the system on its own.

The HEQ5 is a very capable mount, you're just pushing it a little too far for more serious AP.

[Daniel-K]

A solid pier will outperform a tripod base but this alone will not be enough to 'beef up' the system on its own.

The HEQ5 is a very capable mount, you're just pushing it a little too far for more serious AP.

i thought so but i really dont want to go down to a 150pds an OAG will it save enough weight?

[BertUK]

the standard formula for a mount that will be used for astrophotography is the instrument and all equipment should not exceed 2/3 the carrying capacity of the mount

[steppenwolf]

an OAG will it save enough weight?

Notwithstanding the potential grief involved in using an OAG (especially with a Newtonian - think inwards focus travel) this could just tip the balance back in favour of the HEQ5/200P whilst giving good tracking without differential flexure.

[Daniel-K]

im thinking its ask mum and dad time for some $$$$ lol

[dmahon]

A finderguider will save some weight.

At the end of the day you won't know until you try it - but if it doesn't work out so well, be prepared to trade the HEQ5 in for something bigger.

[Daniel-K]

the thing with the finder guider is im unsure how to do it i was thinking do i plug the usb cable from the camera in the pc and then a st4 from the pc to the mount?

[dmahon]

The finderguider makes no difference - you're just using the finderscope as a telescope. The camera is connected the same way regardless.

The usual camera is the QHY5, which has its own ST4 port built in.

There are two options:

1) USB from camera to PC, ST4 from camera to mount, select "on-camera" in PHD

2) USB from camera to PC, PC connected to mount with EQMOD cable, select "ASCOM" in PHD

If you already connect your PC to the mount anyway, the second offers you a solution with one less cable.

[foundaplanet]

I think there is a lot to be said for sticking with what you have and truly learning to understand your kit and how to get the best from it.

You have some good gear.

[Daniel-K]

1) USB from camera to PC, ST4 from camera to mount, select "on-camera" in PHD

how do i do st4 from camera to mount if theres no st4 port on the camera. i was hoping to use a web cam as a guider to get going

or should i just get the qhy5?