I'm close to purchasing a William Optics ZenithStar 80mm II ED refractor telescope (6 pounds). I would like to use it to look out the windows of my house at the stars (yes, I know that this is not the best way to do things). What kind of not too expensive mount could I get that I could adapt so that I could easily clamp it to a windowsill. I would want the mount to either have slow motion controls or have adjustable tension so that it could be smoothly moved to the direction I wanted it to go. The scope has a 1/4 inch bolt mounting hole. Anything would be better than what I now do, which is use a very beat up old 80 mm F/5 achromat with a badly chipped, dirty lens on a 6 inch high tripod, balanced on the windowsill with two tripod legs outside and one inside, with a sloppy tripod adjustment that freezes the scope in one direction. Even at low mag, Jupiter is streaked past all of its moons. Thanks!
Unorthodox question
Started by scope777, 08/27/2008 11:40PM
Posted 08/27/2008 11:40PM
Opening Post
Posted 09/01/2008 07:39AM
| Edited 09/01/2008 07:41AM
#1
Dale Partin said:
I'm close to purchasing a William Optics ZenithStar 80mm II ED refractor telescope (6 pounds). I would like to use it to look out the windows of my house at the stars (yes, I know that this is not the best way to do things). What kind of not too expensive mount could I get that I could adapt so that I could easily clamp it to a windowsill. I would want the mount to either have slow motion controls or have adjustable tension so that it could be smoothly moved to the direction I wanted it to go. The scope has a 1/4 inch bolt mounting hole. Anything would be better than what I now do, which is use a very beat up old 80 mm F/5 achromat with a badly chipped, dirty lens on a 6 inch high tripod, balanced on the windowsill with two tripod legs outside and one inside, with a sloppy tripod adjustment that freezes the scope in one direction. Even at low mag, Jupiter is streaked past all of its moons. Thanks!
Visit this website:
http://www.planetatm.com/
And scroll down to the Pipe Mounts. I had a 9 pound short tube newt mounted on a round disc base with upright pipe and 90 degree elbow on top, very similar to what is shown there, after seeing those picts.
Use a round unfinished table top for the base. Galv pipe and fittings. Match the threads for smooth fit at the hardware store. Add a wrap of teflon tape to the thread sections that are to move, and replace it every now and then as needed, for smooth movement. No other lubricating required.
Simple and worked good.
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