Posts Made By: Tim Tate

I have an AP 400 GTO which I have been aligning with the two star method. I continuosly re-sync on objects but have not been able to get better than about one degree pointing accuracy after moving say 5 or 6 Hours RA and 40 to 50 degrees DEC. Must the mount be dead level to achieve greater accuracy? Thanks in advance if any of you can help!

I have been unsuccessful in finding a used AP 900 mount and may now look for an NJP for a 6" f/7 refractor. Do any of you Tak fans wish to comment on the NJP vs AP 900 mount?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Tim Tate

I have a six year old 155 and the self adhesive flocked paper inside the dewcap is starting to come loose at the end of the dewcap where it slides over the lens cell when being stowed. Any suggestions on how to re-attach this? Double sided tape comes to mind, but I'm wondering if anyone has a better idea. Thanks for reading this, Tim Tate

Hi Bill, I have a new Traveler and no, the dew shield does not come off. Nor have I noticed any drooping. It's quite a firm fit. When i extend mine, I normally turn it 1/4 turn to make sure it seats well and is paralell to the tube. Tim Tate

Hi Chuck,

I recommend an AP Traveler on a 400 GTO mount. Having owned a 12.5" RC, 4.7" AP and a Questar 3.5", all in an urban location, I've had the best views of the planets and the moon with the Traveler. The aperature is small enough to work well in marginal seeing and the optics are simply unsurpassed. On an average night, a 3mm Radian gives tack sharp views of the planets at 200+ power. The 400 mount dampens vibrations in less than one second, is user friendly, and is very portable. If this set up is in your budget, you can't go wrong.

Tim