Guide Scope help

[KyleStoke]

Hi

i was wondering if a Celestron Astromaster 70AZ Telescope would make a good guide scope for a Skywatcher Evostar 80ED DS-Pro Outfit,

any help would be apreciated, i have a HEQ5 mount and would be using a moded webcam as guide camera, if this info helps

any advice would be helpful

[The Sailor]

Just looked up that scope, how wil it be attached to the SW80?

Jim

[KyleStoke]

no idea tbh, could you reconmend any scopes that could be used?

[The Sailor]

Well the 70AZ looks about twice the length as the SW80, would be a bit akward fitting it piggyback, do you have a 9x50 finderscope, I am looking at making your setup as compact as possible. A number of us here have converted the finderscope to a guider with a webcam, that adapter will cost you about £30, possibly cheaper that rings for your 70AZ and as said more compact. There are a number of photos on here as well.

Jim

[KyleStoke]

thanks Jim, that sounds like a good plan,yes i have got the 9x50 finder what is the adapter called/where can i get it from?

[The Sailor]

Here you are:

http://www.modernastronomy.com/camerasGuider.html

Go down the page till you get to Finder/Guider Adapter, the one you require is for the SPC900, this will screw into a webcam after taking the lens out, again take a look at some of the threads on webcams to ensure you get things right

Jim

[KyleStoke]

Thanks a lot Jim, i will have to check if i can use my webcam as it is already in a custom maid fitting for a 1,25 eyepiece. could you reconmend a small scope if it cant be used with the 9x50 finder?

[The Sailor]

I think when it comes to recommending a scope I would rather leave that to the well better astro educated people on here, I like to help but never recommend , am sure someone will be of help.

Jim

[KyleStoke]

haha no problem Jim, you have been a lot of help

[The Sailor]

Just to let you know, I have a Startravel 80 as well, orignally as a guider but now used with my Evostar 80 in AP. Take a look at my photos in my link to give you an idea of what I have .

Jim

[KyleStoke]

yea i had a look at them some crackin shots in there , hopefuly i will eventualy be able to do something similar

[The Sailor]

There is an equipment album, it's there I want you to see so you have an idea of what I have .

Jim

[KyleStoke]

yea there is a lot of stuff there, i think i have got the basics needed apart from the guide, i did plan on this been a cheep hobby but my credit card has taken a beating

[The Sailor]

Cheap, cheap????? Oh my, my missus is trying to beat my hobby as to who will get the most money out of the card, when she goes shopping I hit the net looking for astro goods , yes it's a dear hobby.

Jim

[KyleStoke]

well you have got to treat yourself once in a while