· 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 P-Dub member Reged: 12/30/11 CGEM at lower latitudes?       #5558619 - 12/07/12 02:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My wife and I have just been stationed in Guam. I have a CGEM and the lower limit of the mounts Lat adjustment is 15 deg. Guam is located @ approximately 13.45. I want to still be able to use the mount for astrophotography but we all can see the problem . Any suggestions? Post Extras:       RTLR 12 Post Laureate Reged: 12/04/08 Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: P-Dub]       #5558625 - 12/07/12 02:22 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Adjust the legs on the tripod to align the mount to the latitudes below 15º. Just be careful of tipping of the mount. Stan Post Extras:       orlyandico Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/10/09 Loc: Singapore Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: RTLR 12]       #5558892 - 12/07/12 09:26 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   put a brick under one leg of the tripod. since I live at 1.22 degrees latitude, the brick trick didn't work for me, so - The above solution was nice, but the solid CNC machined wedge is quite heavy and it wasn't cheap to have made. So for my other mount I had a different wedge fabricated which is made from four aluminum plates bolted together. Much lighter, and it doesn't seem to be weaker. Post Extras:       Raginar Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/19/10 Loc: Rapid CIty, SD Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: P-Dub]       #5558980 - 12/07/12 10:21 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I agree, get a wedge madde before you go. A couple of hundred for a wedge to use your CGEM is worth it. Post Extras:       orlyandico Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/10/09 Loc: Singapore Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: Raginar]       #5559097 - 12/07/12 11:18 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If you're interested in my wedge design, I can send it. Post Extras:       P-Dub member Reged: 12/30/11 Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: orlyandico]       #5559893 - 12/07/12 08:04 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   @orlyandico, Would love it. We are actually here already so I have to get one or make one myself. I'll shoot you a PM. Thanks for the input and suggestions all. Post Extras:       zinsco1 member Reged: 12/27/09 Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: P-Dub]       #5560767 - 12/08/12 11:50 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Greeting and welcome to Guam, since polaris is not in view here. Drift align is the way to happiness. On my cgem i have the longer counter weight bar. And micrometered the marks on the lat scale and simply scibed a couple of additional( since the lat adjustment does run by the 15 degree mark this got me about 14 to 13.9 or so and i was in businness.Then i use a compass to set north Litte advice make sure your equipment is moble and able to get under cover quickly as the rains here do come rather unexpextly. otherwise the viewing here is pretty good Nice dark skies particulary on the north end of the island. zinsco1 Post Extras:       orlyandico Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/10/09 Loc: Singapore Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: zinsco1]       #5560775 - 12/08/12 11:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   err.. why not use the ASPA? i just started using the ASPA on my CGEM here in Singapore. it works great, actually. Better alignment than I ever did with drift alignment. Post Extras:       P-Dub member Reged: 12/30/11 Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: orlyandico]       #5561542 - 12/08/12 09:31 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks zinsco1. Do you astrophoto here? Would love to hook up sometime. Unfortunately it looks as though we are going to be stuck south in Santa Rita, just up the hill from Big Navy, and since I plan on doing astrophoto hope it gets dark enough. Good tip on the weather. I do believe that ASPA should work, yes? Just hope that it'll all align and track well enough for photos. Post Extras:       orlyandico Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/10/09 Loc: Singapore Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: P-Dub]       #5561585 - 12/08/12 10:09 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   if you're using the CGEM unguided, the massive periodic error will make your life miserable. Still with 30-60 second exposures at most. if you have access to an autoguider, much better... the PEC routine can cut the PE in half, allowing you to double your unguided exposures. but really, at a really dark site, 60-second subs will show plenty, just use lots of them. Post Extras:       P-Dub member Reged: 12/30/11 Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: orlyandico]       #5562760 - 12/09/12 04:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I guide so that shouldn't be too much of an issue. Thanks for the heads up. Post Extras:       zinsco1 member Reged: 12/27/09 Re: CGEM at lower latitudes? [Re: P-Dub]       #5564277 - 12/10/12 02:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey P-DUB yea i attempted a foray into astrophoto, thats how i got the lesson on the weather i had eyes on the laptop and equipmnt didnt notice the big nasty cloud and bamn torential downpour scambled to save equipmennt but lost my ccd / guide camera and the laptop. saved mount annd main scope. With regards to ASPA or drift align whichever you can set up faster as the power grid here is less than stellar and does drop off unexpectedly, Running a/c adapters is the only way to power all the equipment. A/C to D/C connverters nnot readily availible here and cost a small fortune to ship if they will ship. And make sure all your A/C stuff is GFI connected either by cord or outlet. Send me a PM and we can connect, i live in a great area for dark skies and have really nice nirghbors who turh off their yard lights when i have my gear set up. zinsco1 Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 38 registered and 34 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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