Cheapest way to get GOTO...

Hey all,

I was wondering what the cheapest way to get GOTO capability on my 8" cass. its got a fork-mount, clock-drive unit now, and would like to just point-n-shoot.

any help would be appreciated,

Clear Skies,
-Ben

Do you really need GOTO instead of just digital setting circles?

Alex

Hi Ben,

This may sound drastic, but unless you can easily adapt something like an old Meade DS-Autostar motor set to your scope, I would suggest selling what you have, and getting a used GOTO scope.

If you consider yourself very adapt at mechanical modifications, then there are some Yahoo groups that do this sort of thing.

Let us know your inclinations

Damn... the only thing thats holding me up is trying to figure out how to make the declanation axis a GOTO.. the one I have has limited motor movement, but not full motion.

I think I could speed up the clockdrive(R.A.) to do what I want, but the DEC motion is the problem...

If they work as advertised (and that's a BIG IF), you may want to consider mounting a Celestron Sky Scout on the OTA. That will work like DSC without the need for encoders and at $400, cost less than DSC and encoders. And you won't need to go through a two or three star alignment process.

How about charts and a Telrad? GOTO by Armstrong. You did say cheap after all!

Doug