Posts Made By: don vescio

I've been using a Coronado MaxScope on a Televue Gibralter mount, which is very much overkill. I'm looking for recommendations for a more portable mount or photographic tripod. I plan on keeping the portable mount in my office so that I don't have to drag out the Televue between meetings. Thoughts?

Thanks.

Currently, I have a Telepod head and tripod. Is it possible to mount the Telepod head on a Bogen tripod? The Bogen that I have seems much more sturdy than the Telepod tripod, which seems to be at its limit with my recently acquired TV85.

Thanks.

Don

What's the size and threading of the small set screws used to attach the top of a Bogen tripod to a tripod head?

Thanks.


Don

FWIW--Anacortes apparently has SolarMax 40s in stock. I was able to order a SolarMax 40, BF10, and an adapter plate for my TV76 last evening and I was told that it will ship today.

I'm looking to mount my Borg Mini 50 w/ SolarMax 40 on my TV76 (using this for white light views). The Borg has a standard 1/4x20 mounting block on the OTA; is there a TV part that will enable me to mount this in one of the TV clamshell slots?

Thanks--

Don

I have a TV76 for H-alpha viewing; I've been using a MiniBorg 50 on a separate tripod for white light solar viewing.

Is it possible to mount both a TV76 and a Pronto on a Vixen GP mount? I'd like to be able to move between H-alpha and white light solar viewing.

Thanks--

Don

I have an older Vixen GP and would like to use a dovetail on the mount. Below is a photo; what part would I need in order to accomodate the dovetail and where might I obtain it?

Thanks--this is my first GEM and I'm leaning about it as I go.

Don

Sorry--I've been an alt-az person for lots of years so this might be a dumb question.

Is there a manufacturer of a quality GEM (equivalent to a Lom. 8 or 11) *without* electronics? I'm strictly a visual observer and only require manual slow motion controls. I'm looking for something that can carry approx. 30 lbs.

Thanks--

Don

I'd like to thank all of those who were patient enough to give me advice during the past several months as I put together my solar observing scopes. Below is a photo that I took today as I was assembling all of the pieces; hopefully tomorrow, I'll get everything in alignment.

The H-alpha scope is a TV Pronto with a Coronado SM60; for white light, I'm using a Meade 125ETX modified by Ken's Rings. The mount is a Vixen Polaris, also modified by Ken's to accept standard Vixen dovetails.

Little girl in image was not included.

Don

I recently sold my SM60/BF10 combo with the intention of upgrading to a SM90. I don't do much observing at night these days, so I've been folding my equipment funds into solar-specific items.

For what I thought would be a temporary fix as I waited for the SM90 delivery, I purchased a second SM40 to double-stack on my SolarMax 40. I expected some improvement, but I did not expect to be so shocked at how much more detail can be seen through double-stacked 40s--MUCH more than anything that I ever saw through my single 60.

A couple of questions that might shorten my learning curve with this combination a bit.

1. Do I use a T-Max tuner on both elatons, or a single tuner between the first elaton and the scope?

2. The T-Max simply treads to the back of the elaton, right?

3. If I use to T-Max tuners, do they need to "be in phase"? In other words, should the knurled tuning knobs on the T-Max tuners be in alignment?

Again, just slapping on a second SM40 was stunning--I'm now thinking of a TV 101 with a 90-60 combo (after I take the family on their vacation, first!).

Thanks.

Don