Mount Ideas?

I'm looking for an equatorial goto mount to use with a 5.5" f3.6 comet catcher. The scope weighs about 7 lbs. I'll be imaging with a Mallincam and a DSI. I was thinking about maybe using a Celestron SE series goto mount if I could find one without its OTA. Any other ideas? A CG5 seems like overkill. I have a budget and need to keep it close to the $500 range. Thanks.

John Miele said:

I'm looking for an equatorial goto mount to use with a 5.5" f3.6 comet catcher. The scope weighs about 7 lbs. I'll be imaging with a Mallincam and a DSI. I was thinking about maybe using a Celestron SE series goto mount if I could find one without its OTA. Any other ideas? A CG5 seems like overkill. I have a budget and need to keep it close to the $500 range. Thanks.

I am with the Mark and Jenna on this one. The CG-5 ASGT is a solid mount that will nicely handle the Comet Catcher as well as a variety of smaller and larger telescopes. It is designed as an EQ mount and has a nice heavy duty tripod that would be a bonus when imaging. Used one can find them in the $400-$500 range.

The SE is a single armed SCT mount designed as an inexpensive/portable visual mount. Using it with a wedge is likely to make it somewhat shaky where as the CG-5ASGT will be rock solid with your scope.

Make sure you buy a CG-5asgt that is new enough that the controller can be flashed... Michael Swanson's www.nexstarsite.com is a good resource for Nexstar mounts.

jon

John Miele said:

I'm looking for an equatorial goto mount to use with a 5.5" f3.6 comet catcher. The scope weighs about 7 lbs. I'll be imaging with a Mallincam and a DSI. I was thinking about maybe using a Celestron SE series goto mount if I could find one without its OTA. Any other ideas? A CG5 seems like overkill. I have a budget and need to keep it close to the $500 range. Thanks.

Yeah, I know a CG5 seems like overkill...but...I think if imaging is your goal that's a better choice. I've often used a 66mm APO on the CG5 for CCDing. Yeah, looks a little minisucle riding up there all by its lonesome, but the results are very nice indeed.

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