EQ mount legs: to extend or not to extend?

[jah79]

I seem to have much difficulty reaching the eyepiece when they are fully extended and have so far thus only extended them an inch or two on the number of times I've been out with the scope. Is this normal?

Or could it be due to the fact that I don't polar align as I am too impatient and just want to start looking at things?

[jgs001]

I leave the legs of my HEQ5 as short as possible for stability, but then I'm not normally looking through the scopes...

[Dimitris]

It has mainly to do with height, your height that is. I am 1,8m tall and I never extend the legs fully, otherwise I will have to stand on my toes to reach the visual back.

Now, your scope is a 150mm f1200 (right?) which is fairly long and that positions your eyepiece quite high, so I think that full extension is out of the question..Either way, it makes no diference, try until you find the positon that suits you best.

Regards

Dimitris

[omneferuss]

Nice to raise a refractor up to an easier viewing height, or to level the mount on uneven ground.. or to gain a vantage over an obstruction to the view..

...but not necessary/mandatory.

[Merlin66]

Normally keep them as short as possible for strength and stability.

( On my NEQ6 I added the short pier extension to the top to give some height without spreading the legs further)

Ken

[scogyrd]

I like to keep mine short too, mainly so I can use a chair whilst observing.

[MishMich]

Newtonian - short

ED 80 - short

5" achro - long.