Celestron ETX 125 onto a SW HEDQ5 Pro Mount ???

[Iangourlay]

Hello all,

I am returning to Astronomy, after a good while away, and I'm choosing a new scope (not the subject of THIS question) and in doing that I think I have decided on a Sky Watchers HEDQ5 Goto Mount (for completeness the scope likely to be either a 150PDS or 200PDS from Sky Watchers)

HOWEVER, the question here is: would it be possible to also mount  a Celestron ETX 125 scope ( I have one of these already, with a very dead mount) onto this new mount. I have noticed two threaded mounting holes - on what looks like a plate  - under the ETX and wonder how I could use it.

My thinking is that IF I could get this to work, then I would go for the bigger (SW 200PDS) scope, for home and more important excursions, whilst using the much smaller ETX for short excursions and for camping etc - when the load carrying might pre-clude lugging about the largish 200PDS.

 

Hoping for some good advice and solution.

 

Thanks in advance.

Ian.

[John]

I've seen ETX 125's mounted on equatorial mounts using a pair of tube rings and a dovetail bar. Like this:

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi @Iangourlay and welcome to SGL. 

The holes at the bottom of the ABS plastic flip mirror housing have 1/4" BSW brass inserts so you can mount the OTA on an camera/video tripod or attach a dovetail bar and mount to the saddle clamp of your mount. Be careful when tightening up the  screws, as they are moulded into the plastic. For the dovetail bar, I would recommend this type ---> https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dovetails-saddles-clamps/astro-essentials-dovetail-bars.html

 

I myself use an ETX105, (albeit re-modded after it had a mishap and the ABS plastic flip mirror housing damaged two of the three mounting points), and as I was not able to source any tube rings for it, I used Jubilee/hose rings and self-adhesive felt. (image below).

note: that the SkyWatcher dovetail bar, (which is what I have used), does not have the slotted holes... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/skywatcher-dovetail-mounting-plates.html

I am not sure what size the external tube diameter of the ETX125 is, but for the ETX105 it is 124mm, so you may have better luck in sourcing ready made tube rings.

BTW - the ETX125 is made by Meade Instrument Corp., not Celestron.

[Iangourlay]

Thanks for that really useful info on the... "Meade ETX 125" (ooops). 

The tube external diameter is 148mm and like you I cannot source rings that will fit exactly.

I am going to try fitting the scope directly to the Dovetail bar, failing that I'll try some 155mm rings (Skywatcher make these - according to Rothervalleyoptics) and failing that, it's large jubilee clips with some felt 🙂

 

 

[RT65CB-SWL]

Just a few more images of my 're-modded' ETX105...

 

...and parts used to attach the visual back.

I used the second adapter ring (as above) to attach the 1.25" visual back. I can insert a filter to the inner thread and the outer thread enables me to use SCT accessories.

 

More info here... 
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/200993-my-modded-meade-etx105-ota-part-1/?tab=comments#comment-2122548
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/210185-my-modded-meade-etx105-ota-part-2/?tab=comments#comment-2242638
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/210469-addendum-to-my-modded-meade-etx105-ota-part-1-2/?tab=comments#comment-2246300
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/235033-my-modded-meade-etx105-ota-part-3/?tab=comments#comment-2544359
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/294717-my-modded-meade-etx105-ota-part-4-the-re-mod/?tab=comments#comment-3226358