Knowing what you know.....

[MartinB]

There you go Nessy, you should by now be well and truly confused.!

Try another question - how long have you been fully satisfied with and regularly using your scope mount combination? If anyone says 10 years that sounds like a good choice to me!

My answer is NS8 GPS - 9 months (out of 11 months as a star gazer)

[GordonCopestake]

Hmmmmm 9 days for me!

[Nessy]

Ok - I'm still thinking on this but this might be my plan:

LXD 10" courtesy of Steve

Mount (EQ5 or 6, not sure which yet depending on co$$$$$t)

ED80

This should do?

4" Tasco type tube can then be given to kids to play with....

ps - whats the big difference between:

EQ5 and 6 and then both of these against a Fork mount?

[GordonCopestake]

The EQ5 is a Vixen GP clone and weighs about 10kg with a load capacity of 10kg

The EQ6 is a Takahashi EM200 clone and weighs about 25kg with a load capacity of 25kg

A fork mount uses a computers to work out the Alt and the Az movement of 2 motors to track an object rather than a physical angle of the axis. This means that the image rotates during photography so is useless for long exposure images without a field rotator that moves the camera with the stars. A fork mount is lighter than an EQ mount as it doesn't require counterweights. A fork mount can be mounted on a wedge to achieve EQ like performance.

from memory

[GazOC]

The LDX needs a bigger mount than the EQ5 TBH. You'll need either a HEQ5 or (preferably) an EQ6.

[SteelRat]

What's the HEQ5 weigh in at?

[GazOC]

I think it's rated for 15kg for visual.

[GordonCopestake]

Yup 30lbs/15kgs give or take

Dont forget that for imaging it's a good rule of thumb to HALF the load capacity of a mount to ensure it's stability. The stated load capacities are fine for visual but imaging is a lot more demanding, at least for long exposure stuff

[SteelRat]

Heh, how much does the HEQ5 weigh?

[Nessy]

EQ6 then.....

I guess the pro also as I would want the go-to (although I really want to learn the sky myself also) and I'm not sure on the standard EQ6

and then adding on the go-to; ok I could then do it in stages but cost wise it makes no sense and it does not look as pretty!!!

[MartinB]

When you spend a lot of money Nessy you want to be left with the feeling that you've got the kit you wanted. Nothing worse than stumping up a load of dosh and immediately thinking "if only I'd got the..."