· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 rtomw77 Pooh-Bah Reged: 10/06/04 Loc: Deer Valley, AZ StarBlast 4.5" on Voyager or Porta mount?       #2970986 - 03/08/09 03:46 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Does anyone use a StarBlast 4.5" on one of these mounts? Is the StarBlast's size and weight with rings and dovetail bar OK? How easy is it to use the slow motion controls when they are off to the side? Can you just push/pull the OTA for fine movements without turning the knobs? Tom Post Extras:       Manny Myles Postmaster Reged: 11/29/05 Loc: Far South of the flyover city ... Re: StarBlast 4.5" on Voyager or Porta mount? [Re: rtomw77]       #2971491 - 03/08/09 12:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I would get the Voyager as the longer arm brings everything out further from the mount, the Porta's arm is just to short. I just checked it(the Porta)with my Comet Catcher which is close to the size of the Starblast and it hits the legs. You can push/pull the ota for coarse movements but would just use the slo mo knobs for fine corrections. Those controls work rather nice. YMMV m2 Post Extras:       mischief super member Reged: 04/26/08 Loc: Northern California Re: StarBlast 4.5" on Voyager or Porta mount? [Re: Manny Myles]       #2972485 - 03/08/09 08:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi, rtomw77 I'm glad you asked that. I have a StarBlast and a Voyager mount and I was wondering if I could use the StarBlast with it. It is nice to know that it would work. I'd like to be able if I go to a star party or go anywhere away from home to take one mount and maybe more than one OTA. So it seems feasible. I'd also like to try putting the StarBlast on the Orion Alt/AZ TeleTrack GoTo mount. It should be ok weight wise. Manny, I like your comment about light and sound. Dorothy StarBlast 4.5 Vixen VMC 110 Lunt 60T H alpha Orion ST80 AT Voyager Orion Alt/AZ GoTo mount Post Extras:       rtomw77 Pooh-Bah Reged: 10/06/04 Loc: Deer Valley, AZ Re: StarBlast 4.5" on Voyager or Porta mount? [Re: mischief]       #2973092 - 03/09/09 03:29 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for the info Manny. My main concern was that the OTA would hinder access to a knob in some positions. I had not thought about the tube bumping into a leg. Hi Dorothy. Please let us know how things work out if you put your StarBlast on your Voyager. After looking at the Voyager picture again mounting the StarBlast tube with the finder up would place the OTA on the far side of the mount from the observer. The controls would be clear of the tube, but the eyepiece position would require a long lean forward across the tripod and mount. You would be in danger of vibrations from touching the mount. Mounting the OTA for viewing from the same side of the mount would place the finder down and obstruct the control knobs on the far side of the mount in some positions. I'll have to think about this some more. I was thinking of buying a Voyager mount now with the eventual aim of getting a modest 80mm ED refractor in a year or two. Putting the StarBlast on it now would be my "justification" of purchase for the CFO. Tom Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 25 registered and 36 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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