There's also a huge list of links to (mostly home-built) amateur observatories at <http://obs.nineplanets.org/obs/obslist.html> tons of good ideas there. -John...
Bruce, I love the design. I have been working on something similar myself. I am having issues with the seal where the to half roofs meet. What did you use? Â ...
casey, the roof seal is a difficult problem, and i have to say i'm waiting for winter rains to test it. 1. in the current configuration, the corrugated metal...
Lately it seems that I have to frequently adjust (tighten) my declination lock. It seems that that lever to lock and release the declination axis is showing...
Casey, I built a 12x10 roll off using the sloped roof design. My version uses garage door hardware instead of v-groove wheels and rails, and I have a one piece...
I have a SC Meade 200 ACF scope ... and want ot try astrophotography I dont want to get into coping with a wedge ...so I thought Id try a Meade derotator. Are...
I have never used them though I have friends that have. They can work somewhat, but like so many other things, there's a catch, and that catch is that you now...
The short, simple answer is that the vast majority of those who try them hate them. They're inexact, they add another complex task to an already complex set...
I agree with other posts that the derotators are pretty much one of the most frustrating of all devices to calibrate and use and rarely are used for...
A wedge (and polar alignment) is easier to use than a derotator, doesn't use up back-focus, and doesn't suffer from bad connections or software glitches. -John...
Hi group, This was cross posted to LX200 group. Please forgive for those that get it twice. Back in April we got burnt out in a wild fire. Totally Destroyed...
Hi Ron, Thanks! I'll check the site soon. I had gotten an extra overlay From you a couple years ago or so. Sadly all my "eggs" were in same basket. Ha Again,...
Actually, it's more like Nexstar Guy doesn't "get" Autostar. I picked up a DS 2090 used to use as a finder for my outreach sessions. Fitted it with a green...
It depends on which stars you've aligned etc. Training the drives may improve the performance. Use High Presision, or go the a 'sync star'(a very bright star...
Sounds like you have a 494 instead of a 497. The 494 is not nearly as powerful as the 497 but you should not have to download any catalogs into either one. The...
I'm shipping my complete Meade 2080 SCT by ocean freight to the Philippines. I have a length limitation of 30 inches, so I examined the pieces I could unbolt...
Nope, it's the 497, numberpad and all. I figured out how to find the messier objects. Thanks for the tip on the adapter, now I can send my order to Scope...
Some USB/serial adapters don't work with scopes, so I wouldn't get just any unit from Radio Shack. Scopestuff should have one, known to work with scopes. ...
You cannot separate at those joints; they are both press fitted by machine AND permanently epoxied in place. These tripods ship to the Philippines regularly...
Do you really mean the DEC lock, because that's a large round knob on the side of the fork. You seem to be describing the RA lock, which is a leaver on the...
This is a 2080, a relative antique. It doesn't have a dec worm drive so there's no big clutch knob on the side of the hub. He's probably talking about the...
... Yes, you are correct. True, I can't adjust it because it broke. After Labor Day I'm going to take the damaged part to a machine shop and see if they can...
... (repeating my answer in the LX200gps group): PEC works in Polar mount, but is buggy in Alt/Az. Additionally: If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, the PEC...
Hello to the group. I have ordered, but have not yet received, a new Meade lxd75 6sn scope with Audiostar. As I look forward to my first star gaze as a...
... A decent sized battery is one of the more stable sources. And "deep cycle" will help in the long run. ... Always start with a good dewshield. That will...
