Re: A question for stargazers
Turns out it is indeed a hole intended for a motor. It has been a long time out of production, unfortunately, so the chances of finding one looks bleak. I contacted a Norwegian telescope webshop, to query about alternatives, but they just shrugged. I suppose I need to know the ratio for the worm gear on the RA axis before I get any further. :-( Guess I'll just put the whole issue on the back burner. At least until autumn when the nights go dark enough for stargazing again. Jostein 2012/6/7 AlunFoto : > For the record I've put up a pic of the details on the mount here: > > http://www.alunfoto.no/temp/EquatorialHole.jpg -- http://www.alunfoto.no/galleri/ http://alunfoto.blogspot.com -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: A question for stargazers
Darren Addy wrote: > I'm curious what eyepieces you got with it? (Brand and focal length) I got the two original Pentax eyepieces, a 6mm orthoscopic and a 20mm kellner. > I can't answer your question directly, but pics would help and I'd > recommend asking in an astronomy/astrophotography forum. I'd recommend > a European forum, since most of the scopes were sold there. Request to join the Norwegian astroforum is now submitted, thanks. :-) > In general, equatorial mounts were often sold with RA (right > ascention) motors only, or with a two-motor set-up with a motor also > on the declination drive. > I'm guessing that the threaded holes are, as you suspect, for the > optional dec drive but not sure what "off the shelf" model would bolt > on there. Thanks! Sounds like there's a faint hope I might figure this one out! That's great news. For the record I've put up a pic of the details on the mount here: http://www.alunfoto.no/temp/EquatorialHole.jpg > In any event, if you have the scope/mount properly polar aligned, the > dec motor would not normally be needed for visual use, while the RA > motor works to keep things in view as the earth turns beneath the > night sky. Dang... With 50% chance of picking the right option I'm always 100% sure to pick the wrong one. :-) Telltale sign of a newbie, I suppose, that I'm not able to tell the RA and DEC axes apart consistently. You are absolutely correct, it's the RA axis I'm curious about. Thanks for putting me right. :-) Jostein -- http://www.alunfoto.no/galleri/ http://alunfoto.blogspot.com -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
Re: A question for stargazers
Jostein, Congratulations! You've got a very fine scope there, optically. One quote I found on it says: This refractor was designed with astrophotography in mind, it is a Petzval design producing a very flat field. Also, they were never imported to the U.S. so are prized here. I'm curious what eyepieces you got with it? (Brand and focal length) I can't answer your question directly, but pics would help and I'd recommend asking in an astronomy/astrophotography forum. I'd recommend a European forum, since most of the scopes were sold there. In general, equatorial mounts were often sold with RA (right ascention) motors only, or with a two-motor set-up with a motor also on the declination drive. I'm guessing that the threaded holes are, as you suspect, for the optional dec drive but not sure what "off the shelf" model would bolt on there. In any event, if you have the scope/mount properly polar aligned, the dec motor would not normally be needed for visual use, while the RA motor works to keep things in view as the earth turns beneath the night sky. On Wed, Jun 6, 2012 at 3:08 PM, AlunFoto wrote: > A couple of weeks ago I got a cellphone text from a relative, whose in-law > family had decided to donate a telescope to a more interested owner. Since > the brand name on said piece of equipment was Pentax, they thought of me. > So now I'm the happy if somewhat incredulous owner of a Pentax-75 EDHF > Refracting Telescope with all original parts, including an equatorial mount I > have spent two days figuring out how to align and operate. > I've enjoyed the process, and have noticed a pair of threaded holes near the > declination screw that makes me wonder if a stepper engine can be fitted to > it, like the offerings from Celestron, for example. Does anyone know if this > can be done? > > Jostein > -- > sent by K9-mail from my cellphone > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
A question for stargazers
A couple of weeks ago I got a cellphone text from a relative, whose in-law family had decided to donate a telescope to a more interested owner. Since the brand name on said piece of equipment was Pentax, they thought of me. So now I'm the happy if somewhat incredulous owner of a Pentax-75 EDHF Refracting Telescope with all original parts, including an equatorial mount I have spent two days figuring out how to align and operate. I've enjoyed the process, and have noticed a pair of threaded holes near the declination screw that makes me wonder if a stepper engine can be fitted to it, like the offerings from Celestron, for example. Does anyone know if this can be done? Jostein -- sent by K9-mail from my cellphone -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
