Mounting Guiding Setup Onto 200P Heq5 Pro

[olander08]

I'm going to be purchasing a Startravel 80T telescope for use as a guiding scope on my Explorer 200p, which sits upon a HEQ5 Pro. To avoid several orders, what exactly would be needed to mount the guiding scope onto my setup that isn't included with the ST 80? Do I need additional counterweights than the standard two?

[earth titan]

Kind of depends how your going to mount it. You can either use additional mounting rings or use a side by side saddle.

This depends on the scope you are attaching it to. A saddle reduces flexure but makes set-up heavier.

My experience of a 200mm scope on an HEQ5 is that the 80mm guide scope will need attaching to the scope otherwise the mount tends to grumble at the extra weight of the saddle mount etc. in which case, you may find the st80 a little large.

However, others may have other ideas.

[earth titan]

I thought I would post a picture showing my solution, after having tried with an st80, which is an Altair guide scope.

[olander08]

The plan was to mount the ST80 piggybacked onto the 200p, but I've chosen to start by using my 9x50mm finderscope as guidingscope along with the QHY5 (and adapter).

[earth titan]

I think that's a wise choice.

I get a lovely PHD graph with a small guidescope. With the ST80 on board it was poor.

Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk 2

[Pete Presland]

I thought I would post a picture showing my solution, after having tried with an st80, which is an Altair guide scope.

whats the focal length of the guide scope you are using?

[earth titan]

I think it's something like f3.7

The link to the finder is here:

http://www.altairastro.com/product.php?productid=16335

There's a guider add on for the back, available from the same place.