AP1200 v ETX70

Folks - I had to take a piccy of the new mount. As you can see, I put the ETX70 next to it...

Now, how do I remove the ETX OTA and put it on the AP...



[albertw: fixed image link]

LOL Dave, Thats amazing the AP1200 is massive!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd sell my granny for a mount like that!! The ETX looks like a flea next to it. You need to get a serious OTA to go on top of that thing!! Chances are you had to sell your soul for that mount so I guessing it might be the ETX for a while!!

What you can do is is mount the ETX (base and all) on the mount. Lock both axes on the ETX in the home position and and bolt a mounting plate to the base. I'm sure you can figure out some way of acheiving this. I did this with my EQ6 and it worked okay.

Wow i'm green with envy!!!!

It almost makes the etx look like a cute little toy :lol:
Whats the weight of the completew assembly ?

I think the ETX might even be too small even as a guide scope! I was really surpriswd at the size of the mount - all pics I'd seen before made it look smaller. They had AP Starfires loaded onto them and they made the mount look 'average sized' if you know what I mean. So I'd love to see one of those OTA's.

I'm currently considering an OTA - it'll be big (and expensive ), so I'll only get one shot. And it'll probably be next year before I can afford it. For now, the C8 SCT will have to do.

The whole assembly as shipped was 95 Kg (210 lbs). In all seriousness, I struggled to get just the DEC axis onto the mount. The counteweight shaft alone (without counterweights) is 7 Kg (15.5 lbs) :shock: But the pier is a surprisingly light hollow tube - but fabulously rigid when assembled.

I had the mount slewing last night at 1200x sidereal - you wanna hear those servos purr - music!

I read somewhere recently that the AP1200 will track for 5 mins (with good polar alignment) without any guiding required. I read the manuals last night and with software correction alone (and still no guiding) the mount will track for 30 mins with no star trails!

I have to say though that looking at the quality of the packing, the quality of the service and the quality of the mount itself, this mount really has to be worth every cent just on those parameters alone. If it delivers even half the performance promised in the manuals, I'll be very happy.

Cheers

Dave McD

Dave of course you realise that as the owner of such a hallowed piece of kit. You have a holy (nay sacred) obligation to produce the finest sexiest astrophotos in the land!!!

Hi Dave - that would require a good CDD and the bank account is well stretched... Still, the Meade DSI might do the trick. 30 mins of a single exposure on Saturn should come out pretty well. Or another trapezium... :lol:

To be honest, my priorities are 80% photometry, 20% astrophotography. So perhaps an asteroid named IFAS would be the obligation?

Cheers

Dave McD