Posts Made By: Chris Sommer

I have had a 5" newt for almost a year now and am not sure I am balancing it correctly.

I set up the scope as if I were going to be observing with it (eyepiece & finder included). I then balance the scope around the declination axis by sliding the tube back-and-forth in its tube rings until it is balanced. I then balance the scope around the R/A axis by sliding the counterweight to offset the weight of the tube until it is balanced. This is the only balancing procedure I have ever found.

My question comes in when I swing the scope to point at polaris (NCP). The tube wants to rotate in the direction of the eyepiece. The eyepiece hanging off the side of the tube is obviously causing the torque, which is causing the rotation. The only way I have been able to resolve this is to rotate the tube inside the tube rings to try and balance the tube when pointed at ncp.

Is this normal with equatorial mounts? And if so, why don't any of the tube balancing instructions I have seen reference this?

Are there any other alternatives? (counterweights?)

As I said, I do have a solution that works for me, but my curious nature has gotten the best of me once again.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

I just got clear skies AND a blackout!

WOOHOO!!!

Might as well just mount it in the halftrack. I wouldn't want to pick it up, that's for sure.