I am buying a TV 85 and planned to get a Gibraltor mount as I want an Alt-Az. I have tons of trees at myhome so I will be "going mobile" or looking "up" at steep angles to view through the "holes" in my tree cover. I have seen mention that some mounts have limitations with viewing at zenith or steep angles. Does the Gibraltor have this problem ? I need something portable, stable (for high magnification viewing), and something that can handle high angle/zenith viewing well. I have seen references to Bogen, Polaris, Universal Astronomics, Helix...Any help would be appreciated.
Best mount for Televue 85 ?
Started by stargazer55, 05/14/2004 02:31PM
Posted 05/14/2004 02:31PM
Opening Post
Posted 05/14/2004 03:07PM
#1
Hi Dave
You will have some problem getting to Zenith with the Gibraltar, however you can limit it to about the last 1 or 2 degrees if you add a riser block between the cradle and the scope ring. I made one for my TV85/Gibraltar combo and I think it was about 3/4" thick and this will still leave the center of the scope just at or just below the centerline of the ALT bearings. If center of the scope gets much above the center of the ALT bearings it it shifts the center of gravity above the ALT bearing an it does funny things to the balance when using large heavy eyepieces. Getting to exact zenith isn't usually a big problem because all you have to do is wait a few minutes and the target mill move off zenith.
Hope this helps
Buck
PS the Gibraltar will hold the TV85 very well and can take larger scopes if you get the fever.
You will have some problem getting to Zenith with the Gibraltar, however you can limit it to about the last 1 or 2 degrees if you add a riser block between the cradle and the scope ring. I made one for my TV85/Gibraltar combo and I think it was about 3/4" thick and this will still leave the center of the scope just at or just below the centerline of the ALT bearings. If center of the scope gets much above the center of the ALT bearings it it shifts the center of gravity above the ALT bearing an it does funny things to the balance when using large heavy eyepieces. Getting to exact zenith isn't usually a big problem because all you have to do is wait a few minutes and the target mill move off zenith.
Hope this helps
Buck
PS the Gibraltar will hold the TV85 very well and can take larger scopes if you get the fever.
Posted 05/14/2004 03:41PM
#2
I have my TV-85 mounted on a Unistar Light Alt/Az from Universal Astronomics. It works very well, including at the zenith ... even at higher powers. I've been out in my backyard frequently with this setup the past few months watching the Jupiter/Saturn/Venus show. This setup, mounted on a light aluminum tripod (mine is from a Meade LXD55), is easily portable. I basically keep it covered in the garage and it's ready to go in the one minute it takes me to carry it out back.
Although I have no personal experience, but based on what I've read, I think you would get similiar results for the same $$$ with a Giro-2 mount.
Although I have no personal experience, but based on what I've read, I think you would get similiar results for the same $$$ with a Giro-2 mount.
