8" SCT on a Vixen GP mount

:S
I am looking at upgrading my equipment and buying a new OTA. My preferred option would be an 8" SCT (Orion or Celestron). My concern is how this OTA would fit on my mount - a 10 years old Vixen Great Polaris. Accordingly to Vixen, the GP can carry 15 lb. and both Celestron and Orion web sites quote the OTA as being 12.5 lb. Based on this numbers it should be OK to put this OTA on the mount, but I'm concerned that by getting so close to the limit of the mount's capacity I will compromise stability and tracking. I use this mount for astrophotography and I love how accurately it tracks during even long exposure times, with no or minimal need for manual guiding help. Does anybody have experience with a similar set-up?

S. Bucki

Slawomir Jan Bucki said:

:S
I am looking at upgrading my equipment and buying a new OTA. My preferred option would be an 8" SCT (Orion or Celestron). My concern is how this OTA would fit on my mount - a 10 years old Vixen Great Polaris. Accordingly to Vixen, the GP can carry 15 lb. and both Celestron and Orion web sites quote the OTA as being 12.5 lb. Based on this numbers it should be OK to put this OTA on the mount, but I'm concerned that by getting so close to the limit of the mount's capacity I will compromise stability and tracking. I use this mount for astrophotography and I love how accurately it tracks during even long exposure times, with no or minimal need for manual guiding help. Does anybody have experience with a similar set-up?

S. Bucki

The GP will handle a C8 and a guidescope OK...but I'd suggest stepping up to a GPDX or even an Atlas if imaging is gonna be the major use...