So... Any Essex astro presents?

[zakkhogan]

looking smart gary, now just need a break in the clouds

[knobby]

And some ingenuity to make the dovetail fit properly

[zakkhogan]

could you not swap it with the one on the 4se

[knobby]

That was my initial thought but its the same (or very similar) shape, the problem is the ota is 5" where the 4se was 4"... But what I don't get is that everyone says the 4 and 5se both had the same mount scratches head!

[ilove1995]

Hi knobby. I can only assume that the celestron 5se ota has a dovetail that protrudes more as my understanding also is that the same mount is used for the 4 & 5se. I'm still trying to find an image of the 5se dovetail on google while I type this.

I wonder if this might solve the problem for you?

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/slt-series/skywatcher-l-bracket-dovetail.html

Al

[knobby]

Its an option, cheers but I think that it would look a bit 'heath Robinson'

Going to look at taking the cover of the dovetail clamp tomorrow, looks promising though.

still can't believe Rother Valley delivered next day and it was free delivery, quality

[zakkhogan]

I think celestron uses the same tripod's\mounts for some of their scope, Ie.. I have the 102GT which has the same mount as the 102XLT which is half the size. The 102gt is the heavy-ist scope for the mount (which causes a world of tracking issues)

As for the dove tall on the new scope is it not as wide as the one on the 4se?

[zakkhogan]

this is your tripod right?

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/celestron-nexstar-6-se-and-8-se-computerized-mount.html

[knobby]

Nearly, thats the 6/8 se mount

its this one http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/celestron-nexstar-4se.html

4/5 se

I've got to go to work now (gets in the way doesn't it !) but I'm pretty sure its just the cowelling thats in the way, although everywhere says the 4 and 5 se mounts are the same I suspect the cover over the dovetail clamp is different.

We'll see tonight!

[knobby]

OK... It works with the cover off

Which is good!

But... To balance the tube nicely its so far back that it won't point higher than 75 degrees without hitting the base of the mount

Luckily I had a nice long look at Jupiter which was well below that

And orion neb looked nice too.

I think its pretty much at the limit of the mount, maybe on the lookout for an EQ3 goto

[ilove1995]

Glad you found a solution knobby. How much better was the view of Jupiter compared to the 4se?

[knobby]

To be honest, very marginal, a bit brighter at high mag. But its definitely better on the Orion neb. Difficult to quantify but I'd say if m dob is a 9 then the 127 is a 5 and the 4se was a 3

Just not sure I can live with the mount?

May have to flog the 4se as a whole unit and put it towards an EQ3 goto

[ilove1995]

Going by your experience I think I may need to rethink my next upgrade. WIll probably concentrate on a new mount instead before upgrading the optics.

[zakkhogan]

Damn this expensive hobby

[knobby]

Going by your experience I think I may need to rethink my next upgrade. WIll probably concentrate on a new mount instead before upgrading the optics.

If you're at all into imaging then yep, upgrade the mount first