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Post by boomboom on Sept 2, 2013 3:29:24 GMT -5
I'm now there Brian. As you know I've ordered the 6" f12 Objective and got the 152 Al tube. Might start the thread with a pic of my Hardwood Tripod. John I intend to put my f12 on the NEQ6 and HW tripod. The legs are 1500mm long and are 70 X 35mm. Makes quite a difference. Matt
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Post by ukjohn on Sept 4, 2013 19:40:13 GMT -5
I've had 3 sessions with the scope on my SkyTee II mount and it's just about enough to get some idea of the scopes potential.
I'm currently hoping to get a Bray Tablet mount and a strong, tall wooden tripod such as a Berlebach Uni 28.
The build quality of the Perseus 150 F/12 continues to amaze me. Each time I look at the scope, stood in the corner of the dining room, I get a thrill of excitement and anticipation. While I've enjoyed other scope designs, it's only a large refractor that can deliver these feelings I think.
While the stock Istar Perseus is not in the same league as Tim Wetherall's fantastic "steam punk" refractor, it's got enough hints of that genre to set the pulse racing I reckon. A long tube with the universe at one end and the eager observer at the other seems to sum it up !!!
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Post by Mike on Sept 4, 2013 22:54:29 GMT -5
John, you are so right about just looking at a refractor and getting a thrill. I guess it's the idea of what we can do and see with it. I have even set mine up in the living room My wife is very understanding.
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Post by ukjohn on Sept 13, 2013 19:52:46 GMT -5
Unfortunately the Bray Tablet mount plan has fallen though so I'm now considering other mounting solutions for my Perseus 150 F/12. An EQ6 mount on a really strong tripod is a possibility. Maybe the Skytee II mount on a really solid tripod would be adequate ?. I'm eager to learn how others have addressed the challenges of mounting these longer scopes - please let me know your experiences, good and bad ! Thanks
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mark
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by mark on Sept 19, 2013 6:16:15 GMT -5
Hi John Be interested to follow your progress . I had my 150 perseus f10 out again last night (notwithstanding the very bright moon in a quite milky sky). I see lots of potential with this scope and can't wait to get it out under some proper dark, clear winter skies! Mine is mounted on an AZEQ6gt. Until I get an extension pillar, I've only used it with this telescope in eq mode, and even then I'm having to kneel a lot to get down to the ep! The mount itself seems to handle the tube adequately, and the tripod is reasonably steady. Tracks well with minimal vibration/movement, but some shake is noticeable when focusing. Damps down reasonably quickly, but still not ideal. I'm considering a longer hardwood tripod, or possibly a motor focuser. As I've said elsewhere - my current arrangement is adequate, not optimal. Cheers Mark
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Post by Kitch101 on Sept 19, 2013 16:41:54 GMT -5
........... Each time I look at the scope, stood in the corner of the dining room, I get a thrill of excitement and anticipation. While I've enjoyed other scope designs, it's only a large refractor that can deliver these feelings I think. While the stock Istar Perseus is not in the same league as Tim Wetherall's fantastic "steam punk" refractor, it's got enough hints of that genre to set the pulse racing I reckon. A long tube with the universe at one end and the eager observer at the other seems to sum it up !!! They do have a presence indeed...... here is my (now sold) F10 with the brass tube-weights on a c1870 Gaunt mount:
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Post by ukjohn on Dec 6, 2013 21:14:04 GMT -5
Lovely rigs there Matti !
I've managed to get hold of a Bray Tablet Mount and a suitable tripod for it in the shape (and it's a big shape !) of an original Meade Giant Field Tripod, the tall one that Meade used to supply with their big LXD 750 6" and 7" apo refractors with 3 inch steel tube legs. I've commissioned a 10 inch pillar extension to get the mount up to just over 6 feet in height so once thats made we should be in business !
The tripod alone weighs over 50 lbs so this will be far from a "grab and go" setup of course but it is manageable for me on my own and has no power supply requirements to sort out.
I'll post some pics of the scope on the mount when it's all ready to go.
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Post by astromanuk on Dec 7, 2013 3:47:19 GMT -5
Hi John,
Who is making your pier extension for you? I have just obtained a Meade Super Giant field tripod used. It is the one supplied with 12/14" LX 200's. My plan is to put one of the APM ALT-AZ MAX Load mounts on it but can see that I will need some form of extender. Congratulations on finding one of the Bray tablets, you don't see them come onto the market that often.
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Post by ukjohn on Dec 13, 2013 7:06:30 GMT -5
Hi Ian,
I've asked Graham at AstroTec to do it and we have a design ready to go. Unfortunately he has run into some problems with his machining equipment but I'm hoping that these will be resolved soon and the project can be completed.
Is the Meade Super Giant the one with 4" steel tubed legs ?. I thought the 3" legs on the Giant were massive enough !
The APM MAX Load mounts look really good - I know of someone who has a 7" F/8 apochromat on one and it does the job really well.
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Post by astromanuk on Dec 13, 2013 7:31:16 GMT -5
Hi John, Thanks, I will get in touch with Graham when I have the mount and know exactly what I require. The chromed legs are, I think 3" diameter. The tripod was supplied with a 12" LX200 so maybe not so different from yours.
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Post by ukjohn on Jan 15, 2014 20:17:22 GMT -5
I've actually got the 6" F/12 mounted at last !. The mount is a UK made Bray Tablet Alt-Azimuth sitting on an Astro Engineering Pier Extension ( AKA the "Owls Nest") and the tripod is the original Meade Giant Field model as supplied with the 6" and 7" Meade ED refractors back in the 1990's. This lot brings the dovetail clamp on the mount up to just over 6 feet in height so I'll be seated when viewing the zenith area ! Just waiting for the poor UK winter weather to give me a nice clear night to give the scope a real run in. I realize you folks in the USA have had it much worse than us though so I hope everything is OK with you all.
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Post by astromanuk on Jan 16, 2014 4:34:07 GMT -5
Hi John,
That looks really good.I like your use of the owl's nest. I hadn't thought of using one of those.
My Meade field tripod has more spread on the legs than yours. I think I may have to modify the spreader to get a narrower footprint to the legs and more height. Looking forward to hearing of your observations when the moon gets out of the way and there is a break in the weather.
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Post by philbarker on Jan 16, 2014 14:41:16 GMT -5
Nice mount and setup I have my lightweight (under 10 KG) ATM 6 inch f-12 on an HEQ5. I've extended the legs with 32mm alu tubing. Its OK easy to point etc needs to be well balanced because of the length of the tube etc. With the length near capacity of the mount If the weight was 14 kg an EQ6 would be needed. I can sit in a chair when looking at the zenith and have been observing Mars and Saturn over the last week albeit in terrible seeing. I'm at the other end of the empire in the South island of New Zealand. I once had a 5 inch f-15 homemade OTA and an old Novak mount with tangent arm drive. This mount was G11 like in capacity and very simple and easy to use if limited in its tracking ability etc at high power. This mount would take an 8 inch f-12 ota it was that strong and had 1.5 inch bushed ra and dec. I shipped from the US in the days it was cheap to send via ship although to keep weight down left weights and legs behind and sourced them locally. What a shame there isn't a really solid low tech equatorial mount avail at a reasonable cost. A picture of the mount and scope is on cloudynights www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=725Good luck with the scope. Phil Barker
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Post by kevinbarker on Jan 19, 2014 21:33:44 GMT -5
Nice mount and setup I have my lightweight (under 10 KG) ATM 6 inch f-12 on an HEQ5. I've extended the legs with 32mm alu tubing. Its OK easy to point etc needs to be well balanced because of the length of the tube etc. With the length near capacity of the mount If the weight was 14 kg an EQ6 would be needed. I can sit in a chair when looking at the zenith and have been observing Mars and Saturn over the last week albeit in terrible seeing. I'm at the other end of the empire in the South island of New Zealand. I once had a 5 inch f-15 homemade OTA and an old Novak mount with tangent arm drive. This mount was G11 like in capacity and very simple and easy to use if limited in its tracking ability etc at high power. This mount would take an 8 inch f-12 ota it was that strong and had 1.5 inch bushed ra and dec. I shipped from the US in the days it was cheap to send via ship although to keep weight down left weights and legs behind and sourced them locally. What a shame there isn't a really solid low tech equatorial mount avail at a reasonable cost. A picture of the mount and scope is on cloudynights www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=725Good luck with the scope. Phil Barker Good work Phil I am making progress with my 180 mm ota. Finished glueing up the hexagon yesterday. It will need a damn good sand and a thorough paint . My design is similar to Andy Jackson's plyscope . main difference is I am using a hexagon, epoxy resin and cut everything with a table saw, jigsaw and drop saw. The ots is 1.2 m long, it will be 1.3 m with lens and focuser mount attached. the full ota should have a mass of about 14 kg. The lens itself is about half of this mass. I am using an astro-physics type Zeiss dovetail and a 50 mm GSO focuser and a GSO focuser. Both lens and focuser will be push pull adjustable. Attachments:
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Post by kevinbarker on Jan 19, 2014 21:43:21 GMT -5
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