mine balances fine but i have a piggy backed guide arrangement with the AP80/900mm guidescope and ST7E atop my FSQ but only one counterweight is needed "William R. Mattil"

Well Mr. Bill, please do tell, spill your guts, etc. Inquiring minds need to know:)

This is off topic, but what adapter did you use to achive focus on the ST w/ a camera lens? Mark _____ From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...] On Behalf Of Richard

ayiomamitis wrote: Anthony, Might it be that you have an older AP1200 ? Because I can assure you that with my FSQ on my AP1200 it doesn't balance. The OTA is *not* heavy enough. My AP1200 has the

Hi Anthony, I fully agree - when I was buying my AP900, I faced the same dillema. You get ever so much more mount for such a trivial increase in cost. If I had an observatory far outside the

ayiomamitis wrote: Don't be too certain of this last point :) My crystal ball indicates otherwise. Regards Bill -- William R. Mattil : http://www.celestial-images.com

Dean, I have also loaded my Tak FSQ on the AP1200GTO and there is indeed a small problem with the balancing but it is not permanent. I picked up a 10-lb counterweight and now everything is

Hi Joe, My reference to difference was in reference to $$$$$ ... there is roughly a difference of about $1000 or roughly 10% .... as a result, may as well spend the "extra" 10% and get something with

i'd surmise that the heavier the load you want to use and the taller the pier the more benefit in going to a 10" diameter. Dean S <dean@...> wrote: I'm still

Hi Dean, Yes, I was indeed intrigued by Bill's issue with balancing an "undersized" OTA. I had never considered that possibility. The AP900 counterweight shaft - actually, now a new shorter

I have used my camera lens setup on the 1200gto with an ST10XME and a camera lens and filter wheel/focuser. It was so lightweight that I just removed the counterweight bar and ran it that way.

Hi Dean, One more thought to add to Rick's advice about cases, is that just as the 1.21x size scale increases going from an AP900 up to an AP1200, there is also the additional weight scale, for

Hi Joe, I am think that the large RA gear on the 1200 gives it a lower PE? But other than that your right about it just being a larger scale. Can one ever have too much mount? Bill had said

Hi Anthony, I really don't understand the difference between the AP900 and the AP1200 - except of course for the greater "mass and wind" load carrying capacity of the 1200. After all, both are

Hi Dean, I have one more thing to add here. I just want to make sure you fully understand the pros and cons so that you are happy. Many people here have discussed how the 1200 is only 50 lbs for

Halpha image: it is what I had handy at the moment: http://www.narrowbandimaging.com/comet_17_P_holmes_page.htm polarization difference

Dean, I have both the Mach1GTO and 1200GTO and it is certain that I will be looking for an additional (AP) mount over the next 12-18 months. Having being spoiled ROTTEN by the 1200GTO, there is

Hi Jim, I used to setup my mount (then a TAK EM200 and FSQ106) from scratch every night. What a chore. I now have a semi permanent observatory with a TAK TOA150 & FSQ106 on an AP1200 on a Pier-Tech

Jim, I'm also observatory-less at present, at least compared to my last place where I had an Astro-Haven dome. But I would never go pier- less. I have a Astro-Pier from LeSeur bolted to a few

Hi James, In using the 18 " AP plate it will place your cradle farther apart that will help in reinforcing your 16" OTA. also, be sure to have Andy drill and tap the front end of the plate for you to