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StellarVue M7 mount setup

Started by Greg Shaffer, 01/24/2012 11:44PM
Posted 01/24/2012 11:44PM Opening Post
Tonight will be 1st light for it......Just got thru setting up on the back deck for some viewing tonight. C11 and Vixen NA140. Have to say it is one smooth, well made mount. I understand there is a new model M150 with a larger capacity. Cant see a need for it myself....This thing is smooth as butter with 2 fully setup scopes weighing in at close to 50lbs at least. I believe I am really going to enjoy using it. There are those times when you just dont want to go thru setting up goto's etc....

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Greg Shaffer's attachment for post 54848

20" MidnighTelescopes f/5
8" f/16 Muffoletto Achro
Meade 6" AR6 f/8.0 Achro
Celestron C11
Parallax PI250 10" F/5 Newt
Vixen FL102S,NA140SS,R200SS
80mm Stellarvue Nighthawk with WO APOupgrade lens, 90mm f/16.67 Parallax Achro
LXD75/LX200, Mini-tower, GP-DX, CG5 ASGT, LXD650, GM-8, G11, GM-100, GM-150EX, GM-200 and a Gemini G40
4" portable AP convertable 44" or 70" pier
Stellarvue M7 Alt-Az, TSL7 Pier/Tripod
12.5" f/5 MidnighTelescopes DOB Swayze optics
Monroe GA
Posted 01/25/2012 01:43PM #1
I'll be keeping my eye on this thread. I'd like to know about your M7's shakedown and in particular how well it tracks at high power (200X on up to as high as you go). Also, it'd be interesting in seeing how it handles two different loads like your NA140 and the heavier C11. Ever since I've gotten back into amateur astronomy eight years ago, I've been using manual German equatorial mounts (GEMs). They've served me well and in particular the CG4 Omni that I have now gives my ES AR127 a nice ride. But one of these days, I'd like to get a Cassegrain type telescope to complement it and it'd be nice to have both on the same mount, something I could do only with an Alt-az mount like yours. A nice refractor on one side and a nice Cassegrain on the other, that's a dreamboat setup for me....

Mark Costello
Matthews, NC, USA

"I hear you're mechanically inclined. Did you ever do anything with perpetual motion?"

"Yeah, I nearly had it a couple of times."