charen
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/28/05
Posts: 1083
Loc: New Zealand
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Hi ! could some one tell me what the load capacity of the original Japanese Vixen Polaris mount is ? This is the early 1980's type - prior to the GP or SP versions.
Is it equal to todays EQ3 / Skyview / Astroview versions or more in the CG-4 [?] or EQ-5 load capacity. I have the opportunity to buy one in excellent condition for my Orion ED100 [ visual use only ]. Thanks for any info.
[It would be great if there was a 'quick reference' chart with all the 'mount equivalents' / load capitities / recomended scope sizes etc. of the well know mounts - past and present - as it does seem this is a very common question - is there such a chart ? ]
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35 binos.
80mm Cat.
WO66ED
SV NH 80mm / EQ3
Meade 8in.LX90
Skywatcher Equinox ED120 / Goto HEQ5.
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RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 2584
Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada
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Depends on how long your scope is, but I wouldn't want to put much more than 10 pounds on it.
I once had a TV102 mounted on one, and it did't do wonders.
One of your 80mm scopes, or even your 4" Mak would be fine on it, though. It is a fine little mount, if you respect that it can't carry a lot of weight. I miss mine...
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-Roger Pitre-
1 X 7 binocular Astro-Tech Imaging Newtonian MPCC
Starblast guidescope Starshoot autoguider
EQ6 Pro, HEQ5, Canon 50D, 70-200 f/4L
"He's got shoulders on him like a smelt..."--Anonymous
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10723&id=509325956&l=79d06a1d10
http://ajpobservatory.isgreat.org/
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charen
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/28/05
Posts: 1083
Loc: New Zealand
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Thanks for the info. One thing it is and that is very well made. The build quality and finish is excellent and both axis movements are ultra smooth. One improvement would be wooden legs as this has [ non original ? ] aluminium ones which detract from it. I will get it as it is above the current EQ3 Chinese type clones when it comes to quality.
With the ED80 [down size !] on top it will make a good 'quick look' scope.
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35 binos.
80mm Cat.
WO66ED
SV NH 80mm / EQ3
Meade 8in.LX90
Skywatcher Equinox ED120 / Goto HEQ5.
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RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 2584
Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada
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Quote:
With the ED80 [down size !] on top it will make a good 'quick look' scope.
It certainly will!
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-Roger Pitre-
1 X 7 binocular Astro-Tech Imaging Newtonian MPCC
Starblast guidescope Starshoot autoguider
EQ6 Pro, HEQ5, Canon 50D, 70-200 f/4L
"He's got shoulders on him like a smelt..."--Anonymous
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10723&id=509325956&l=79d06a1d10
http://ajpobservatory.isgreat.org/
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JohnG
sage
Reged: 12/16/06
Posts: 357
Loc: Wake Village, Texas - East Tex...
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Nice mount. I bought the Celstron 6 inch f/5 on the Polaris mount back about 1984. The weak spot is the cast altitude adjusting bracket. Over time mine bent almost to the horizontal, and that was only with the weights that came with the 6 inch. Too bad, because the mount is very well made. So, do like Roger says and use small telescopes!
JohnG
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John Gerrald
Unitron Model 142
8 Inch f/7 Custom Assembled
8 Inch Celestron/Vixen f/5 Newtonian
6 inch Celestron/Vixen f/5 Newtonian
8 Inch f/2.9 Sky Research Newtonian
Celestron Polaris Equatorial Mount
Celestron Super Polaris Equatorial Mount
Celestron 11 x 80 Comet Hunter Binocuars
Bausch & Lomb 7 x 50 Binoculars
A few vintage eyepieces
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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Posts: 12070
Loc: San Diego, California
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Quote:
Is it equal to todays EQ3 / Skyview / Astroview versions or more in the CG-4 [?] or EQ-5 load capacity. I have the opportunity to buy one in excellent condition for my Orion ED100 [ visual use only ].
Just a quick note: The EQ-3/Astroview is the same mount as the older CG-4. The new CG-4 has a much better tripod.
I think the drives are not so cheap for the Polaris but I had a friend who was using a Orion EQ-3 drive... But then I have heard the older EQ-3 mounts and the newer ones have a different gearing....
jon
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Rcade
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/04/04
Posts: 758
Loc: GA
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I really like my old Polaris and it is a fine well made and stable mount. I use it for my Nighthawk II and even with a hefty Nagler or a camera it is very stable. I would not go heavier than a 5" SCT or a short 4" refractor though. I would consider the Polaris as at least as stable as an EQ3.
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Clear Skies,
Rob Cade
Cave Astrola Deluxe 8" f8 (Achilles)
Stellarvue NH-II in Stardust Blue (Cleopatra)
Celestron C9.25 (Maltese Falcon)
Celestron C6R-GT (Criminal Intent)
Oberwerk 15x70
Vixen Polaris Mount
Clear Sky Chart == Macon, GA
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Daniel Warner
stranger
Reged: 05/03/09
Posts: 3
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Hi John
I noticed that you own a Celestron /Vixen newtonian
I just purchased one and the primary is in need of a good cleaning. Can you please tell me how to remove the primary ? Do you have to remove the rear tube ring ?
Thanks for any help
Clear skies,Dan
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roscoe
super member
Reged: 02/04/09
Posts: 192
Loc: Northwestern Mass
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Mine holds a Celestron/Vixen 80mm F/11 comfortably. I wouldn't mount anything any bigger, though.......... Russ
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Antares/Vixen 812 120mm f/8 on reworked CG-5,
Celestron/Vixen C-80 80mm f/11 on Polaris,
Sears/Towa 60mm f/15 on reworked Towa,
assorted Ultrascopics and Orthos
homemade tripods, chairs, EP cases, observatory
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zjc26138
Postmaster
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 5254
Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio and Morga...
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I had a William Optics Megrez 100 mounted on a Vixen Polaris that was used in Alt-Az mode and it handled the weight quite nicely.
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Custom AR5
Stellarvue 80/9D
Bosma Goto Mount
Clear, dark skies everywhere,
-Zachary
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johnfdean
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/04/06
Posts: 1031
Loc: southern tip of Illinois
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I have one on my C6 newt. I would say 10 is the limit.
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Celestron C6 f/5 by Vixen with Polaris GEM
14" Tscope dob f/4.7 with Argo Navis
80mm Nighthawk on Eq 2
Celestron C-4 f/10 GEM
Sky Scout
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Preston Smith
Military Observer
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3449
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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It's important to note that the original Polaris mount can handle additional weight when used in the Alt-Az configuration. It works amazingly well for my SV115T which is an 11 pound scope plus the rings and dovetail bring it to about 13 pounds.
Here is a link to one of my posts where I have a picture of the scope on the mount - about half way down the post:
Traveling with the SV115T and the Vixen Polaris Mount
It is a superb travel mount in the Alt-Az configuration.
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Preston
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
SV115T,NHII,SV70,SV50 and Tele Vue Ranger
Vintage Refractors: Asahi-Pentax, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron
60mm Telescope Club
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Starpoke
sage
Reged: 11/14/07
Posts: 275
Loc: Western Montana
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I load my l989 era Polaris with up from 11 to 14 pounds with my Brandon 94, scope rings, custom dovetail, and large 2" eyepieces not counting the 14 pounds of counterweights and CG-5 counterweight bar. With the Unitron legs which were available from Vernonscope in the late 80's and a JMI motofocus damping time is under 3 sec., as long as I don't bump the scope. Changing eyepieces or messing with the coarse focus sets up a longer settle down time. I have read in the classic scope forum that the Polaris and SP have identical load capacity. The SP redesign was primarily to enable dual axis drive. The gearing and bearing areas are about the same. I recently scored an aftermarket Dec drive also from JMI which was available when the mount was more current
Clear skies
Glenn
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152nn f9 Starfire Apo on Schaefer AT-4 Mount
94mm f7 Brandon Apo on ASGT (or Polaris when AGST is on the fritz.)
WO Zenithstar 66 f6 ED Pretzval on UA Microstar
Tasco 7TE-5 60mm. f16.7 EQ Refractor.
Celestron C-60E f15 on Polaris
Celestron CO 62 Cometron f5
Meade 390 90mm f11 on Mizar m-4
Tasco 8V
eyepieces, books, some old scopes and mounts - ect.
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dyslexic nam
member
Reged: 01/28/08
Posts: 74
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I am wondering if anyone has any experience overloading a vixen polaris mount. I have an 8" f6 dob and am considering (despite common sense) mounting the OTA on a VP mount to try some short exposure AP. The last poster stated that he had put 14 pounds on a VP and didn't note any ill-effects on the mount, so I am wondering if mounting my 20 lb OTA will actually damage the mount, or if it will simply result in a longer time for vibrations to stop.
Cheers
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Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 2703
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I would not try this much weight.
A 4" refractor is about the top end of the Polaris.
The weak point is the altitude bracket. To get enough weights on it to balance would be risky.
Even the later Super Polaris would struggle with this amount of weight.
A GPDX on HAL-110 legs would be the minumum I would try in this class of mount, and the LXD-75 or CG5 GT would be better choices (but even here, I think you are pushing it).
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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