1/2 Price Visual Setup!

[JohnSadlerAstro]

Hi,

I opened my "new" Astro Tech Voyager mount this morning, it's my first ever Alt-Az mount so it was quite exciting! I bought it 2nd hand off @AdeKing for visual observing while the main EQ5-130PDS setup is running for AP. I've paired the mount with the AR90s @Mr niall sold me, so the entire setup cost almost exactly half what it would have done new.

Also had a rather interesting cake made by a couple of sisters, I felt I had to share this one it's so good. It also included the customary  grab-n-go meme, although pasta might go a bit soft with the dew, it seemed quite a good setup really. The EQ 0.1 mounts were very sturdy, although their axes seemed to have seized by using icing rather than SW gunge.

The apostrophe debate will have to wait for another time.....  

John

[happy-kat]

Your grab and go mount looks very useable and fitting of the title.

[nightfisher]

looks a nice little set up, look forward to your thoughts on this once you have used it some

 

[Stu]

Great looking setup John. I'm intrigued to know how you find the Astrotech mount, looks like it has good potential. 

[paulastro]

I agree with Stu, it looks a great setup.  I used to have this mount years ago, and have fond memories of it.  Alas I'm not totally sure how it fit's in with all the other altaz mounts I now own or have owned in the past.  I'll look forward to hearing how you get on with it.  My memory tells me it was noticeably better than the AZ5 which I have, I got the head only cheap but really this is only suitable for short stubby scopes in my view.  I was hoping that the AZ5 would have the stability of the AZ4 with slow motions, but alas it hasn't.

[happy-kat]

From reports isn't it more stable if the head is on better legs.

[JohnSadlerAstro]

Thank you for the kind comments folks, I'm very excited to find out how the mount will perform, I'll post with more details once I get clear skies!

The tripod looks like the EQ1/2/3 one, but it's actually way sturdier, and the extension locking screws actually feel like they aren't boring through the legs when tightened. A very handy feature are the "stamp points" on each foot that let you drive the feet into the ground. Both axes are very smooth, and it's easy to balance, as well. The tripod is probably the weakest link, but when pushed firmly into the ground I don't imagine it will cause any issues. 

Overall, the mount's vibration damping is quite similar to my EQ5s. (Although as the EQ5 has rubber feet and the AT doesn't, the comparison is a bit invalid on concrete.)

John

[Mr niall]

Very nice sir

[LukeSkywatcher]

10 hours ago, JohnSadlerAstro said:

Hi,

I opened my "new" Astro Tech Voyager mount this morning, it's my first ever Alt-Az mount so it was quite exciting! I bought it 2nd hand off @AdeKing for visual observing while the main EQ5-130PDS setup is running for AP. I've paired the mount with the AR90s @Mr niall sold me, so the entire setup cost almost exactly half what it would have done new.

Also had a rather interesting cake made by a couple of sisters, I felt I had to share this one it's so good. It also included the customary  grab-n-go meme, although pasta might go a bit soft with the dew, it seemed quite a good setup really. The EQ 0.1 mounts were very sturdy, although their axes seemed to have seized by using icing rather than SW gunge.

The apostrophe debate will have to wait for another time.....  

John

Technically, i think its called Stargazy Pie.

Nice scope. 

[Gina]

But that is a π  ?  I thought it was quite clever.

[iPeace]

I really like this mount. It comes in various brandings but originates from GSO. It has served me well over the past couple of years.

I've upgraded the clamp and now use it on a Berlebach tripod.

[AdeKing]

John,

I'm glad that the mount turned up safely and that you're pleased with it.  I really enjoyed using this mount, but it was getting little use since I moved to a WO EZ Touch and got two longer refractors.

I'm glad that its gone to someone who is going to use it more often than I did.

The AR90s looks well suited to the Voyager, I hope that you get a great deal of enjoyment out of it.

Regards,

Ade