Skywatcher Pier

[Saif1a]

Hi All.

With winter and cold dark skies approaching I got the itch to put together some Telescope gear and practice some hands on Astronomy.

I'd like to start some imaging and stacking, but got some loose ends in my equipment experience and 'howto'

This is my list but will it fit together? Strangely, Googling doesn't seem to find anyone or any setups using this pillar mount.

Skywatcher Pillar Mount (mainly because I got narrow balcony space tripod legs spread out).

Skywatcher AZ5 Extension Tube. (Will this fit on the one above?)

Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTi. (Will this fit on the one above?)

Skywatcher ED80 (Got)

Skywatcher Finderscope (Got)

Finderscope to Guidescope adapter (Will get)

QHY5 II guide cam (Got, but how do I get this and guidescope into focus. Can it be done in daylight without messing up the sensor?)

Polaris (Obstructed. Is NINA the best with plate solve and 3 star alignment routine?)

 

Thanks in advance for any tips.

Saif

 

[Franklin]

The GTI will fit on the AZ5 half-pillar but the AZ5 half-pillar has a photo type thread and the SW pillar mount takes an EQ5/HEQ5 think it's M10 bolt fitting. You'd have to fit this adaptor between the SW pillar mount and the base of the AZ5 half-pillar.

Edited September 18, 2023 by Franklin

[bosun21]

1 hour ago, Saif1a said:

QHY5 II guide cam (Got, but how do I get this and guidescope into focus. Can it be done in daylight without messing up the sensor?)

Set it up through the day on a distant object and slide the camera in and out until you get a decent image. Once you have a decent image then you can fine focus by rotating the guide scope nosepiece and then locking its position with the locking ring behind the nosepiece. You can then test it at night to check the focus on stars themselves and again use the nosepiece of the guide scope to fine tune the focus. .

[Saif1a]

Is the AZ5 'Half-pillar' the black extension tube with white collars sometimes called AZ5 Extension tube?

Would all three parts then have the same girth? The part above looks plastic and smaller diameter to an EQ5 pillar (going by the thread size).

Alternatively could I just use the pillar tripod straight to the Star Adventurer GTi? It would introduce 1 joint instead of 3 which could cause movement in slew and alignment.

Bit confused where the peg on the pillar goes into the GTi mount head?

Edited September 18, 2023 by Saif1a

[Saif1a]

7 minutes ago, bosun21 said:

Set it up through the day on a distant object and slide the camera in and out until you get a decent image. Once you have a decent image then you can fine focus by rotating the guide scope nosepiece and then locking its position with the locking ring behind the nosepiece. You can then test it at night to check the focus on stars themselves and again use the nosepiece of the guide scope to fine tune the focus. .

Hope to get an eyepiece adapter for my basic Skywatcher finderscope to allow the QHY5 to fit like eyepiece.

[M40]

20 minutes ago, Saif1a said:

Is the AZ5 'Half-pillar' the black extension tube with white collars sometimes called AZ5 Extension tube?

Would all three parts then have the same girth? The part above looks plastic and smaller diameter to an EQ5 pillar (going by the thread size).

Alternatively could I just use the pillar tripod straight to the Star Adventurer GTi? It would introduce 1 joint instead of 3 which could cause movement in slew and alignment.

The above adapter takes the skywatcher pillar from its standard bolt to a camera size bolt which the gti needs. Its a solid lump, if you are getting the pillar you will need the adapter; so can I suggest you just get that and see how you get on? Ive not seen the az5 half pillar, but another option is the skywatcher heq5 extension pillar plus the above adapter. Very heavy very solid.

[Saif1a]

2 minutes ago, M40 said:

The above adapter takes the skywatcher pillar from its standard bolt to a camera size bolt which the gti needs. Its a solid lump, if you are getting the pillar you will need the adapter; so can I suggest you just get that and see how you get on? Ive not seen the az5 half pillar, but another option is the skywatcher heq5 extension pillar plus the above adapter. Very heavy very solid.

How would someone do the AZ fine adjustments on the mount head for polar alignment with the adapter in place?

[M40]

With the az gti, you simply spin it onto the mount then polar align as normal. The azimuth clutch knob will enable you to rotate the mount. I've only used this mount with a wedge and that was some while ago, so hopefully someone else will give a few more clues there. All the best.

[Saif1a]

Sorry to be pedantic, does it mean the AZ fine adjustments happen on the GTi mount head itself and the mount itself screws in firm or swivels on the bolt thread?

[M40]

1 hour ago, Saif1a said:

Sorry to be pedantic, does it mean the AZ fine adjustments happen on the GTi mount head itself and the mount itself screws in firm or swivels on the bolt thread?

Yep, you screw the az gti onto the mount so that it is tight. Adjustment then comes down to physically picking the mount up and rotating to suit with fine adjustment by loosening/tightening the azimuth clutch. Using it in purely alt/az maybe look at getting mount as level as possible then plate solving. All the best.

[StevieDvd]

14 minutes ago, M40 said:

Yep, you screw the az gti onto the mount so that it is tight. Adjustment then comes down to physically picking the mount up and rotating to suit with fine adjustment by loosening/tightening the azimuth clutch. Using it in purely alt/az maybe look at getting mount as level as possible then plate solving. All the best.

I don't think physically picking the mount up and rotating is right that could upset levelling. The mount is rotated in AZ with the clutch released, whether fine or not. IN AZ mode the adjustments are stored in the mount and set using the app keys to centre a star. In EQ mode the Alt/Az bolts on the wedge would be used for fine adjustments.