Andrew Sprott

Hello Folks

Firstly I would like to pass on new years wishes.

We are organising a Star Camp at Trefach Caravan Park by the Preseli
Mountains on 4th of March. Anybody is welcome and booking details
etc., are at

http://astronomy.crysania.co.uk

We are also looking for a mount for a 12" Netwtonian which is about
28lb. So the cheaper Celstron GE GT is out of the question and so is
the Vixen Sphinx.

I'm interested in the Synta Skywatcher EQ6, but I've heard that it
isn't very good for DSO. Is there anything that can be done to fix
this, like building our own drives.

Apart from that, the choice we have is to try and build our own mount
using Mel Bartels system for the goto. Are there any resources about
that document the making of custom mounts?

Andrew Sprott

Steve Taylor

Andrew Sprott wrote:
> Hello Folks
>
> Firstly I would like to pass on new years wishes.
>
> We are organising a Star Camp at Trefach Caravan Park by the Preseli
> Mountains on 4th of March. Anybody is welcome and booking details
> etc., are at
>
> http://astronomy.crysania.co.uk
>

You can count us down for four tickets at least.
Note to N.G. - The skies here are stunning.

> Apart from that, the choice we have is to try and build our own mount
> using Mel Bartels system for the goto. Are there any resources about
> that document the making of custom mounts?
Depends a lot on what you have available to make it with. Metalworking
tackle helps quite a lot.

Steve

Robert Williams

Hi there Andy,

for the Synta EQ6, try the AWR / Intelligent Handset upgrade
from Bray Imaging (and others).
I am told the upgrade significantly improves the solidity / rigidity of
the drive/mount.
I use this set up with a 6" Mak-Newt and it runs very smooth.
I think the current cost is about £600 for the EQ6 and another
£400+ for the upgrade.
It will easily cope with your OTA.

regards

Robert

"Andrew Sprott" <andrew.sprott@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:50108f2c.0501010911.55600ec8@posting.google.c om...
> Hello Folks
>
> Firstly I would like to pass on new years wishes.
>
> We are organising a Star Camp at Trefach Caravan Park by the Preseli
> Mountains on 4th of March. Anybody is welcome and booking details
> etc., are at
>
> http://astronomy.crysania.co.uk
>
> We are also looking for a mount for a 12" Netwtonian which is about
> 28lb. So the cheaper Celstron GE GT is out of the question and so is
> the Vixen Sphinx.
>
> I'm interested in the Synta Skywatcher EQ6, but I've heard that it
> isn't very good for DSO. Is there anything that can be done to fix
> this, like building our own drives.
>
> Apart from that, the choice we have is to try and build our own mount
> using Mel Bartels system for the goto. Are there any resources about
> that document the making of custom mounts?
>
> Andrew Sprott

andrew.sprott@gmail.com

Robert,

> for the Synta EQ6, try the AWR / Intelligent Handset upgrade
> from Bray Imaging (and others).
> I am told the upgrade significantly improves the solidity / rigidity
of
> the drive/mount.
> I use this set up with a 6" Mak-Newt and it runs very smooth.
> I think the current cost is about £600 for the EQ6 and another
> £400+ for the upgrade.
> It will easily cope with your OTA.

This is the setup that Kieron McGrath is flogging. I think I might
go for it, because the price difference is marginal.

Andrew

andrew.sprott@gmail.com

Steve,

> You can count us down for four tickets at least.
> Note to N.G. - The skies here are stunning.
How many vans will you need?

Andrew

RichM

> Note to N.G. - The skies here are stunning.

When you say stunning, do you mean low in light pollution? I've checked the
location of the campsite on streetmap.co.uk and it does seem pretty remote.

RichM

andrew.sprott@gmail.com

RichM wrote:

> > Note to N.G. - The skies here are stunning.
>
> When you say stunning, do you mean low in light pollution? I've
checked the
> location of the campsite on streetmap.co.uk and it does seem pretty
remote.

Very dark. One of our members found it difficult to make out
Polaris through the polar alignment scope because of so many
other stars he had never seen before.

Andrew

RichM

> Very dark. One of our members found it difficult to make out
> Polaris through the polar alignment scope because of so many
> other stars he had never seen before.

Looks like I'll be paying a few visits to Pembrokeshire this year.
Needlesstosay I've bookmarked the website.

RichM

Steve Taylor

andrew.sprott@gmail.com wrote:
> Steve,
>
>
>>You can count us down for four tickets at least.
>>Note to N.G. - The skies here are stunning.
>
> How many vans will you need?

1 van, and we'll camp.

Steve

Mark Underwood

Thanks for the invite. Had to hunt around to find a map on the site of the
exact location which turned out to be on the old linked site. I now know
where Mynachlog ddu is :-)


"Andrew Sprott" <andrew.sprott@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:50108f2c.0501010911.55600ec8@posting.google.c om...
> Hello Folks
>
> Firstly I would like to pass on new years wishes.
>
> We are organising a Star Camp at Trefach Caravan Park by the Preseli
> Mountains on 4th of March. Anybody is welcome and booking details
> etc., are at
>
> http://astronomy.crysania.co.uk
>
> We are also looking for a mount for a 12" Netwtonian which is about
> 28lb. So the cheaper Celstron GE GT is out of the question and so is
> the Vixen Sphinx.
>
> I'm interested in the Synta Skywatcher EQ6, but I've heard that it
> isn't very good for DSO. Is there anything that can be done to fix
> this, like building our own drives.
>
> Apart from that, the choice we have is to try and build our own mount
> using Mel Bartels system for the goto. Are there any resources about
> that document the making of custom mounts?
>
> Andrew Sprott

andrew.sprott@gmail.com

> Thanks for the invite. Had to hunt around to find a map on the site
of the
> exact location which turned out to be on the old linked site. I now
know
> where Mynachlog ddu is :-)

The best place is www.streetmap.co.uk and use the post code
SA66 7RU.

Andrew