Image of the day

Captured by
Michael Scherman

Dual Clusters near Antares

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Celestron CGEM Dovetail System??

Started by Dan Bush, 05/17/2009 12:19PM
Posted 05/17/2009 12:19PM Opening Post
I have various telescopes that I'm going to be mounting on a celestron CGEM mount. This is my first seriuos equatorial mount. What kind of dovetail system does the mount have? I don't have the mount with me yet so not sure what I'll need and the literature is vague. I'll be mounting a 6" mak/cas, TeleVue Pronto, Sky-Watcher Refractor etc. What dovetail bars etc. would you advise and where should I get them?

Thanks for any advice.

Dan
Posted 05/17/2009 01:12PM #1
You can go with the standard Celestron dovetails.

And if you want to go a bit higher in quality you can get the Losmandy dovetails. These come with radial mounting blocks and are usually believed to have less flexure.

You will need to get rings to go with your choices; any good dealer, such as Anacortes, Teton (which sells a lot of Maks), etc. should help you out.

One thing you will need to decide is whether you want one dovetail to which you will screw and unscrew the various rings for your various scopes, or whether, as a convenience at higher outlay, you want to get one dovetail for each scope, put the appropriate rings on it, and save hassle. Perhaps you want the Pronto to be configured to ride on the Mak.

Once you get beyond Losmandy there are alternatives such as ADM, Cassady, and a few other companies.

regards
Greg N

"Scope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no scope." --Freewheelin' Franklin
Posted 05/17/2009 04:43PM #2
Dan Bush said:

I have various telescopes that I'm going to be mounting on a celestron CGEM mount. This is my first seriuos equatorial mount. What kind of dovetail system does the mount have? I don't have the mount with me yet so not sure what I'll need and the literature is vague. I'll be mounting a 6" mak/cas, TeleVue Pronto, Sky-Watcher Refractor etc. What dovetail bars etc. would you advise and where should I get them?

Thanks for any advice.

Dan

The CGEM uses Losmansy D style dovetails NOT the Vixen style. Depends on where you live. In the U.S. I suggest Losmandy or ADM.

Uncle Rod

Time on your hands?
Waste it with Uncle Rod's Astro Blog!

http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/