maybe   the issue I predict will be balance with the camera load fore in the newtonian design and wind load   my 18" f/12.6 classical cassegrain weighs in about 100 lbs on my 1200 mount and it works

Joe I hope the answer is yes. I'm starting a similar project, with an 18 inch f/4. How thick is your mirror? Jerry

I am building an 18" Dob for visual use which I would also like to convert for astroimaging riding on my 1200GTO. Is the 1200 going to be able to handle a truss based 18" scope about 65" long? The

I too have installed the window heaters: I have had no problems since. before installing I was having a dewed window by morning. It makes it hard to re-use flats. one of the things about being first

Hi Rick, thank you for your nice comment. Actually the windows should be heated, such a large chip once cooled produce a very strong thermal effect on the window despite the filling gas is an

Nice results and a great story Marco. That sensor you have is working very well. Too bad that the humidity got you. That's a big sensor very close to the glass: maybe a window heater is needed? I

Dear all, last month I eventually had a chance to test my new Microline 16803 with both my TEC140 and my new AP Mach1 mount under the dark skies of Isola del Giglio, an small island in Tuscany,

It may well be the case. I certainly spend considerable time building a Gemini model that seems to get corrupted fairly easily. Not having an AP mount (except in my dreams) I should not really tell

I am not aware of that but it is irrelevant. I will NEVER have the money to buy a Paramount - as excellent it may be. AP mount is still conceivable. Paramount is NOT. LN

Agreed. Jerry

Very true. ;-) I will say, though, as a recently former G11/Gemini owner (May), it's nice to NOT have the pointing model residing in the mount firmware. Battery resets; failures; other

I think what had to be said was said. It was great for clarification of several issues but I do not that anything has to be added. LN

Ladislav Nemec wrote: [snip] Certainly you are aware that a Bisque Mount requires a computer to operate ?!?!? So then Adding modeling software to that is simply a matter of adding software to that

Christopher Vedeler L.Ac. wrote: It is entirely possible to add mount modeling to an AP mount in *exactly* the same way that these professional Observatories do. Add a Computer System to handle those

Paying additional money for modeling that is, as many say, not necessary and has no effect on imaging is the key. Getting it for free should be OK with anyone. LN

Chris All your points are well taken, but in the case of our amateur equipment at some point it's good enough. AP is there and more economical equipment is not. My polar alignment is usually

Hi Pete, The command set for the Astro-Physics servo system is found in the keypad manual. I would download the latest manual from the website to be sure that your information is the latest,

I agree with you if AP starts charging additional money for a modeling software. If it come as part of future models, it's fine and good for everyone. If you do not like it, don't use. If you like it,

Field rotation! Mount may be forgiving of polar misalignment, long exposure astrophotography is not. Although some software can do alignment of rotated images for stacking. If one has such software

Hi Rick, You MIGHT be able to do this: --create a user defined data at a particular horizon-based az/alt (based upon the exact az/alt given during a "known" park, with the led centered) --when