Skyliner 200p Goto Conversion

[Lowen22]

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience converting a Skyliner 200p dobsonian (Non Go To) into a Go To telescope?

Can this be done?

Any help is appreciated.

L

[brantuk]

It's a bit too costly to do really. If you google "Servocat" and "Argo Navis" prices you'll be gobsmacked lol. It's really only worth doing on very large dobs of 18" plus. I don't know of any cheaper kits available.

A more cost effective way is to mount the tube on something like an AVX or better still NEQ6 Pro/AZ EQ6 GT. That'll cost around £800 to a grand new (or half to 2/3rds of that second hand). It's a bit too big for an EQ5 - but the shorter 200P tube (fl = 1000mm) can be used for visual observing on this mount without too much hastle.

[almcl]

If you do go down the EQ5 route, it's possible to add stepper motor drives and use an Astroeq to make a very capable goto system, but as Brantuk says, the 200P is a bit too much for imaging on an EQ5.

[Lowen22]

Maybe its best to keep this scope as it is then.

The only other question I have is, can I attach some form of tracking device to the scope? 

Thanks for your help.

[Ricochet]

The device you're looking for is called an equatorial platform. I'll have to leave it for others to advise on which brands are best though. 

[brantuk]

Ahh yes - nice one Ricochet - it's often called a "barn door tracker". It's not a conversion - more of a platform that you stand the dob on. They can still be expensive though:

http://www.equatorialplatforms.com/about.our.platforms.shtml

http://www.equatorial-platforms-uk.co.uk/home

Hth

[Lowen22]

15 hours ago, brantuk said:

Ahh yes - nice one Ricochet - it's often called a "barn door tracker". It's not a conversion - more of a platform that you stand the dob on. They can still be expensive though:

http://www.equatorialplatforms.com/about.our.platforms.shtml

http://www.equatorial-platforms-uk.co.uk/home

Hth

Thanks!

[brantuk]

I've also dug out a build design from my local group for you if you fancy a bit of tinkering yourself (could do it considerably cheaper). One of our astronomers made a very nice little dob tracker/eq platform himself (for around £100 iirc) and there's plenty of very interesting references here:

http://www.reinervogel.net/index_e.html

https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/12353-my-eq-platform-project/

 

[Lowen22]

On 2017-5-11 at 14:19, brantuk said:

I've also dug out a build design from my local group for you if you fancy a bit of tinkering yourself (could do it considerably cheaper). One of our astronomers made a very nice little dob tracker/eq platform himself (for around £100 iirc) and there's plenty of very interesting references here:

http://www.reinervogel.net/index_e.html

https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/12353-my-eq-platform-project/

 

That's more like it!

Thanks, will give this a go over summer months.

[rockystar]

bit of an out of date thread, but sumarian optics do one for just under €300 http://www.sumerianoptics.com/products-price/#