Tom in FLA
sage
Reged: 04/08/07
Posts: 243
Loc: SpaceCoast, FL.
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I realize the Wixey has magnets but for some reason I thought Dave's picture looked like he had a bracket on his, I guess not. I'm leaning towards notching the top base board myself.
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SpaceCoast FL. 
Zhumell 10" Dob
Celestron NexStar 5
Naglers: 7T6, 12T4, 17T4, 31T5.
Stratus 21mm. Half a dozen other EPs.
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 BobW
sage
Reged: 12/29/06
Posts: 266
Loc: Mebane,North Carolina
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I got my Wixey angle gauge on Monday. Maybe I got the last one:)
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North Carolina
Z10 Dob
Oberwerk 20x80 Deluxe II
Universal Astronomics Unimount Light
Garrett Gemini 10x50 LW Binocular
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rnabholz
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/25/04
Posts: 897
Loc: Iowa
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Quote:
I've been pondering the azimuth scale too. I keep going back and forth between the way Carol did it (top side of the bottom base board) or the way some others have done with attaching it to the ground board and notching the bottom base board.
Does anyone think either approach is better than the other?
For convenience, I think that notching the top board and placing the scale bewteen the top and ground board has one significant advantage.
By doing it that way, you can place the pointer in a position that rotates with the focuser - the natural position for the observer to be in while at the scope. You can always see the pointer without moving around the scope.
By placing the pointer on the ground board, there will be times when you have to walk around the scope to see the pointer and then return to the eyepiece. Not quite as convenient.
Having said that, both systems will work, and nobody should let this issue prevent them from putting this system in use on their scope. Just do it in whatever manner fits your idea of convenience, your skills or your whatever other preference you might have.
Good Luck
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Rod Nabholz
Home Built Astronomy Projects
Wild Bird Photography
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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By doing it that way, you can place the pointer in a position that rotates with the focuser - the natural position for the observer to be in while at the scope. You can always see the pointer without moving around the scope. (QUOTE)
Absolutely! I wish I could have notched my board. I have to get up each time to see where the pointer is on the scale. Good exercise, but frustrating! 
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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HockeyRulesX4
member
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 72
Loc: Batavia, IL
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Thanks! I wanted a couple opinions before I got out the trusty jig saw. Stopped by Kinko's today and got the 22" azimuth scale. $9.82 printed and laminated.
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Dave
Zhumell Z10 Dob
Meade 70mm Refractor
Peck Farm Park, Geneva, IL
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HockeyRulesX4
member
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 72
Loc: Batavia, IL
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I think I'm all set 
Thanks to Carol and everyone else for leading the way!
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Dave
Zhumell Z10 Dob
Meade 70mm Refractor
Peck Farm Park, Geneva, IL
Edited by HockeyRulesX4 (05/01/07 02:35 PM)
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Dave: Beautiful job! Looks very professional. Now all you have to do, is get out under the night skies & enjoy it!
Thanks for posting your picture!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Tom Andrews
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/25/07
Posts: 1000
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
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Here's a picture of my current az setting setup. I used an aluminum tent stake that I cut off to fit. The clip-on light my wife found at CompUSA at the check out stand. It has two LED's, uses a small lithium battery (replacable), is totally flexible and extremely lightweight. I used a red permenant marker to color the lens. It works so well I bought another to clip on my astronomy equipment toolbox.
This setup works very well though I don't like the less-than-professional look. I'll be experimenting with various other ideas in time.
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Tom
The Secret To Life:
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't;
Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.
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2007 Discovery 12.5" PDHQ Split-Tube Dob w/manual setting circles/Telrad/Zhummel 8x50 RACI finder scope (*For Sale*)
Coulter Odessey 8" Dob
Celestron C11-SGT
Garrett Optical 15x70 Gemini Binoculars on homemade Parallelogram w/Setting Circles
The Albuquerque Astronomy Society (TAAS)
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Tom: Quite an ingenious way to light the "pointer"! I like it! 
Thanks for sharing the photo with us.
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Philip Levine
super member
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 156
Loc: near Boston, MA
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SkyArcher,
Thanks very much for the pdf file of degree circles.
Phil
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Zhumell 10" Dob (modified with degree circle and Wixey inclinometer)
26mm 2" GSO eyepiece
9mm 1.25" GSO eyepiece
13mm Nagler T6
GSO ED Barlow
RACI 8x50 finderscope
Crayford focuser
DewBuster w/homemade heater strips
Nikon 10x50 EX binoculars
University Optics 11x80 binoculars
Surveyor Tripod w Universal Astronomics Parallelogram
member International Dark-Sky Association
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Roger51
member
Reged: 09/05/06
Posts: 61
Loc: Michigan
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I just purchased a 16 Lightbridge. Does anyone know what the degree circle size is for this scope? I would like to have everything ready so when I assemble for the first time I can add the degree circle as I put it together.
Thanks,
Roger
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Roger
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Rob Willett
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/07/05
Posts: 649
Loc: London, UK.
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Just in case it helps, this thread has a link on how to generate setting circles of any size. The size is only limited by your printer.
Cloudy Nights Setting Circles
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Thanks,
Rob
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Roger51
member
Reged: 09/05/06
Posts: 61
Loc: Michigan
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Thanks Rob I was going to use the formula provided above (size of base/ 19) However, I don't know off-hand the size of the 16" Lightbridge base? I was hoping someone who has the scope would be able to give me the dimension.
Roger
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Roger
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Rob Willett
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/07/05
Posts: 649
Loc: London, UK.
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I've got no idea about the size of the base I'm afraid. The setting circles program will work to any size, if you have access to a large plotter, it could handle A0.
Shout if you need a hand to get it working once you find the size of the base.
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Thanks,
Rob
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Roger: There are a couple that have the 16LB that have posted reviews. Just PM on of them, or ask this question in a new post in the forum, & I know one of them will be more than happy to measure the base & give you the diminsions.
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Philip Levine
super member
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 156
Loc: near Boston, MA
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Hi Carol,
I've been reading about your success with the "go-to" system, using degree circles.
I have a couple of questions. I am still a little unclear about lining up the zero on the degree scale with the "sliding" pointer. I read you center Polaris in your scope, then set the degree circle "sliding" pointer to the zero mark on the degree circle scale.
So, do you first roughly set the degree scale to zero when you first setup to view Polaris, then center Polaris in your scope and fine adjust the "sliding" pointer to zero?
Have you tried using a compass to align the degree circle to zero? Just wondering which method is easier or more accurate.
I just received the Wixey digital angle gauge (neat), and have the pdf file for the degree circle. What did you use to mount the degree circle to the base, glue?
thanks so much for the wonderful info,
Phil 
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_________________________________________________
Zhumell 10" Dob (modified with degree circle and Wixey inclinometer)
26mm 2" GSO eyepiece
9mm 1.25" GSO eyepiece
13mm Nagler T6
GSO ED Barlow
RACI 8x50 finderscope
Crayford focuser
DewBuster w/homemade heater strips
Nikon 10x50 EX binoculars
University Optics 11x80 binoculars
Surveyor Tripod w Universal Astronomics Parallelogram
member International Dark-Sky Association
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Phil: Thank you! When I line up my scope in the beginning, I do adjust the base so that "0" is "north" facing. Then I line up Polaris in my eyepiece, & then it's just a matter of fine-tuning the "pointer" to "0". I have not used a compass, there you get into declination, etc., which to me, just complicates the process. The system I use is very accurate.
I just used double-stick scotch tape to attach the degree circles. I just applied some in about 1" strips in about 6 places around the circle.
You will be amazed at how accurate this simple system is! Good luck, & please post your results!
Thanks, Phil!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Sader762
member
Reged: 06/29/06
Posts: 66
Loc: East Texas
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I had some difficulty getting my push-to system working right at first. It ended up being the settings in the program I was using. Here is a second "first light" report:
Well I got to get out and play for an hour last night. I went out and I guess I caught the sxy between the thunderstorms and it was pretty good skies. I dragged out the Orion 10 XT and quickly set it up. Jupiter was as high as it was going to get so I quickly set up to observe it. Not too bad considering the seeing conditions. Very steady seeing, the 4 moons on one side looked really cool, I was able to catch moderate banding but no spot. Overall a fairly good session with Jupiter.
I quickly grabbed the palm and found out the coordinates for Jupiter and I set up off that. I did not level the scope, instead I had it on my back yard wood deck. I then had a good direct view of Sagittarius. In 45 minutes I was able to catch 10 or so M objects by using the new push to system. Almost always the object was in the eyepiece or really close (I used a GSO 2' 26mm eyepiece - it's good for finding objects). I was very pleased with the system and saw more last night in 45 minutes than I have seen in hours of other observing sessions.....
Here are the mods I did to it:
1. Push-to system with new ground board
2. About 9 magic sliders between the ground board and the Az. board
3. Added a Telrad
4. Complete flocking of the OTA
5. Added a permanent compass to the Az. board
6. Added a light to the push-to pointer
7. Complete cleaning of the optics, darkening the back of the optics, and a good collimation
8. Added a keychain ring to the declination springs to make motion smoother
This scope is a very smooth moving scope that holds well when you stop the direction motion. I am very pleased with how everything turned out. Thanks to everyone for all the help and leading the way......
 
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Orion 10" XT Classic
Meade 8" LX5 SCT
Celestron 6" Star Hopper Dob
Telrad
about 20 various eyepieces
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Sader762: Congratulations on a great job modding your scope. I'm so glad you find the degree circle system working so well for you. The simplicity of this fools people into thinking that it couldn't possibly be accurate; thanks for pointing out the opposite!
Again, Congratulations, & also thanks for your post & photos.
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Sader762
member
Reged: 06/29/06
Posts: 66
Loc: East Texas
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Thank you Carol for leading the way on this great mod for us "Dob-Heads"....... 
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Orion 10" XT Classic
Meade 8" LX5 SCT
Celestron 6" Star Hopper Dob
Telrad
about 20 various eyepieces
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