Looking for Inexpensive tripod/mount for Lunt 60MM

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Steve
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Looking for Inexpensive tripod/mount for Lunt 60MM

Post by Steve »

Hello All.
I'm new to solar viewing having owned a Meade 8" CAT for quite some time.
I have a Lunt 60MM on the way and I'm trying to figure out what I want to mount it on.
I'm thinking a cheap tripod with simple EQ mount and basic motor drive would work.
I've found the ASTROMASTER 130EQ-MD for ~US $219.
But I'm not sure if the dovetail on the Celestron mount will fit the 6" bar from Lunt.
Does anyone have experience with this system from Celestron?
Any thoughts on a better alternative?
Thanks,
Steve


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Montana
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Re: Looking for Inexpensive tripod/mount for Lunt 60MM

Post by Montana »

I am not sure what the Lunt comes with but I have had an Acuter Merlin mount for 10 years with my PSTs. It is great, lightweight, easy to take on an aeroplane , never gone wrong, set up time is 1 minute. However it is alt/az but I never find that a problem with solar as imaging is so fast. It can make animations a little sickly though :lol:
It seems to be called a Skywatcher now?
https://www.astroshop.eu/alt-azimuth-wi ... in/p,53561

Alexandra


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Re: Looking for Inexpensive tripod/mount for Lunt 60MM

Post by Montana »

A very warm and sunny welcome by the way :)

Here it is in action
ImageTelescopes by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

It also works well with my 65mm Tecnosky + Canon camera and I have taken some nice milky way and deep sky images too.
Alexandra


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Re: Looking for Inexpensive tripod/mount for Lunt 60MM

Post by marktownley »

I'm going for a skywatcher alt az mount in the new year https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywat ... ripod.html


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Steve
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Re: Looking for Inexpensive tripod/mount for Lunt 60MM

Post by Steve »

Thanks for your help. I've been looking at that one as well as the Celestron SE. I think you are correct that the fast exposure times will allow for a simpler mount.
I was able to get my scope out for the first time yesterday. Mounted on the back of my Meade LX200. Lots of hardware to lug around for what I want to do.
Thin, high cirrus clouds made the day less than ideal but I could see the target in the scope although I was struggling to get what I think should be the correct amount of detail.
Much easier to find than some of the deep sky objects I've looked at over the years :-)
Steve


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MalVeauX
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Re: Looking for Inexpensive tripod/mount for Lunt 60MM

Post by MalVeauX »

The inexpensive Celestron SLT and similar do a good job with small scopes like the 60mm and are very inexpensive.

Very best,


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