58 replies to this topic

[Richard Low]

Hi folks

 

Recently an old  friend suddenly decide to sell me his beloved Astro-Physics 6" f/12 Super Planetary OTA. It's missing the original AP 8x50 finder (I wish I can find one).

 

I'm looking for a sturdy tracking mount for visual planetary use that is portable. I post here, hoping to get some advice from those who are familiar with mounting big refractors with long focal ratio f/12 or larger. Thank you.

[starman876]

if you can find one the old AP1200 mount would be perfect.

[k5apl]

Maybe a Losmandy G11T mount.....or a Mountain Instruments 250.

Wes

[CHASLX200]

AP800 can do it and it has SLO - MO's. 1200 is wayyyyyyy toooo big and cost too much.

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Edited by CHASLX200, 07 May 2025 - 09:45 AM.

[Alrakis]

If you use a Hargreaves strut you should be able to use a G11 class mount for visual. 

 

Chris 

 

 

https://www.cloudyni...trut/?p=5717737

[ccwemyss]

The AP finders of that era were a white version of the NS finders that University Optics was selling. They come up now and then, and are easy to repaint. 

 

The AP800 would be a fine mount choice. I think that some were sold with the 706, but probably pushing its abilities. A 900 would hold it very well, as would something like a Byers 812. There are more conventional GEM designs with large shafts that could carry it too. It's not an especially heavy OTA, but long, so it needs a mount that can dampen those vibrations quickly. 

 

Chip W. 

[Richard Low]

Hi all

 

Thank you for the various mount suggestions in no particular order:

 

AP1200

AP900

AP800

G11T

G11 (with Hargreaves Strut)

Mi250

Byers 812

 

Others have suggested to me these

Ioptron HAE69 or HAE43

Rowan AZ100 (with motors)

 

I'll have to review and considerall these mount options.

 

 

 

Thank you Chip for the tip on AP 8x50 finder. I do have an old UO 8x50 finder, so I just need to wrap the black finder body with white vinyl sticker. May still need to find the finder bracket.

[CHASLX200]

I have a AP900 that would work fine .  

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[jragsdale]

I'm looking for a sturdy tracking mount for visual planetary use that is portable.

 

Do you have a budget in mind? Do you want tracking? And when you say portable, please specify how portable as in max weight of largest item. Some people call a mount that doesn't need a forklift "portable", some people only call something they can lift the whole mount up in one piece as portable.

[Richard Low]

I'm not really limited by the budget, however I'm a visual observer who usually uses simple AZ mounts like a DM4-type or Carton AZ with slow-mo (I was told AP used this to carry 5" refractor in the past), and I have EQ6 non-GoTo for tracking. So while I could sign up to buy the Mach 2, I don't need all the bells and whistles since I don't do astro-imaging, and the AP 6" f/12 will be used specifically for visual planetary observing. The local sky seeing condition is usually very good to excellent, I've seen the incredible planetary views sharp and unwavering at 600x on this AP 6" f/12 apo, the edges of the Encke Division was clearly defined across the whole ring at 600x.

 

I stay in an apartment (>85% of the people here live in high-rise apartment) so I will need a tall pier on wheels to move the mount into the lift/elevator as I'm unable to observe from my apartment. I'm past mid-fifties and have no problem to lift and carry my 22 inch f/4.1 primary mirror which weighs 20.5 kg. I'm still healthy to lift or carry something heavier but I will try to limit at 20kg or below for ease of use. Definitely not "forklift heavy".

 

A more portable mount is more likely to be useful, so the iOptron HAE69C which weighs 9kg and had payload 31kg without counterweight (or even iOptron HAE43C) seems appealing. Does anyone have experience using long refractor on a strain wave / harmonic mount?

 

Alternatively I'm also looking at a locally-available used mount. Regardless of which mount head I buy, I will need to buy or custom-build a tall portable sturdy pier on wheels.

 

I think AP900 would be more sturdy but less portable compared to the HAE69C or HAE43C. The AP900 may priced at twice the cost of a new HAE29C or HAE43C which I can self-collect in HK next month.

 

Currently I'm considering these few mounts, and also on the look out for other suitable mounts, especially if available locally. I would appreciate any comment or advice please.

Edited by Richard Low, 09 May 2025 - 10:13 AM.

[ccwemyss]

Keep in mind that the AP keypad is just a portable computer. You don't actually need it. I've used my phone with Sky Safari to control my 900 using a SkyFi box. Also, if you send the keypad to AP, they can repair it for you. The only physical difference between the CP3 and CP4 keypads is that three of the buttons have different legends. Otherwise, it's just a matter of which firmware version is loaded. So AP still has all the parts. 

 

The 900 easily breaks into two pieces that are fairly easy to carry. It's actually more portable than a Mach 2. I have a 6"f9 and a C14 mounted side by side on mine, and it's very stable. I had a Losmandy G11 and a CGEM-DX previously, and it is a big improvement. One thing about it is that the goto system needs good polar alignment. Their RAPAS scope does a great job. But there are articles on their site that talk about how to get good alignment without it.

 

Chip W. 

[Kitfox]

To me, the AP 900 is the ultimate portable equatorial for moderately large refractors. I have from a 400 up to 1600s, and the 900 just sits in that sweet spot only Goldilocks would appreciate.  I do wish I could see a 3600 in person, though   Pretty sure it’s a papa bear, though…

Edited by Kitfox, 08 May 2025 - 08:38 PM.

[Spikey131]

There is an AP 8x50 finder on Amart.  It is an old ad (January) but is not marked sold.

 

A 900 QMD would be a fine mount for this scope, if you could find one.

[stevenwav]

A lot of good suggestions here - I used a Losmandy g11 as well as an ap 900 qmd for mine - and I even used a Discmount dm6 with a Losmandy hd tripod - worked fine and was all very portable. Even a T-Rex alt az would handle it fine. A little wiggle so use as long of a plate as you can get - 16” or 24”. I used a telrad finder for mine. 

Edited by stevenwav, 08 May 2025 - 09:29 PM.

[jragsdale]

This is what I have my AP 6" f/12.5 mounted on:

 

 

But it's custom made by Steve Kufeld, the inventor of the Telrad (tube is Broadhurst Clarkson & Fuller of London). It works great but is a one-off.

 

I really like the idea of a heavy duty strain wave mount for portability but I don't have any experience 1st hand or 3rd in their use with long moment arm scopes. An AP900 would rock, but spendy and a learning curve. I have a CGX-L for a C14 and I've been VERY impressed with its ease of use and stability vs many other similar mounts I've used for the C14. Not one to rule out, used for ~$2500.

[Richard Low]

Thank you all for the good suggestions.

 

I have not used any strain wave mount, except seen a AM5 in action. I may still consider the iOptron HAE69C or HAE43C as an option, as it wins on portability.

 

Unfortunately I missed out opportunities to buy the DM6 or T-Rex AZ mounts. Someone suggested Rowan AZ100 with motors may be able to handle the AP 6" f/12 OTA, does anyone have any experience on this please?

 

Yes I do agree that AP900 is more portable than Mach 2; it is unfortunate that Mach 2 does not allow the DEC component to be removed from RA component like the AP900 or Mach 1 etc.

 

Yes I'm aware that i can leave out the keypad as done by most imagers. For me, I may rather release the manual clutches on both axis to startup rather then to set the GoTo. No encoders on the AP900. The keypad had been repaired by AP earlier but the same issue had returned  after a while. Yes I could consider to add Skyfi and go wireless control on phone, if that works. Thanks for the good suggestions.

 

I've submitted advertisements on CN classified for AP800, 900 QMD mount etc, and also for AP 8x50 finder & finder bracket. Ads are approved by moderator and posted.

 

I saw the ad dated 15 Jan 2025 for AP 8x50 finder but it is already marked as sold. There is an older ad dated 14 Apr 2022 for AP 8x50 finder straight-thru, which is not marked sold. I sent a message to the seller. Edit: seller said it is sold.

Edited by Richard Low, 09 May 2025 - 06:56 AM.

[jragsdale]

https://www.cloudyni...e-826-and-more/

[Richard Low]

I have a AP900 that would work fine .  

Hi Chas,

 

I noticed you and I have 2 things we have in common, we both are visual astronomers who love non-goto slow-mo mounts, and we both have good sky seeing for high magnification planetary observation.

 

Yes I noted your ad that you are selling off AP900 QMD with scopes. I just need to buy the AP900 QMD (without the scopes) if you dont mind to ship it over, as it is harder for me to fly over to pick up in Florida... lol. If you can't split and must sell as full set for local pick-up only, that's fine.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep looking.

Edited by Richard Low, 09 May 2025 - 08:53 AM.

[jragsdale]

Yes I noted your ad that you are selling off AP900 QMD with scopes. I just need to buy the AP900 QMD (without the scopes) if you dont mind to ship it over

Chas doesn't ship under any circumstances, so you might need to use a 3rd party or intermediary to purchase/pack/ship for you if that's the one you want.

[Richard Low]

Chas doesn't ship under any circumstances, so you might need to use a 3rd party or intermediary to purchase/pack/ship for you if that's the one you want.

 

Ah I see... then I'm probably out of luck as it would be a tall order to find anyone who would pick up from him, pack and ship to me. Thanks for the heads up.

[jragsdale]

Ah I see... then I'm probably out of luck as it would be a tall order to find anyone who would pick up from him, pack and ship to me. Thanks for the heads up.

If money is no object, you can sometimes find a crating company who will pick up large heavy items for you, then carefully crate it and ship it, I know it would be a premium service and premium price, but something to consider as an option.

[bobhen]

If you can find a Losmandy GM-100 (not the g11)  that mount with a losmandy tripod will easily hold your 6" F12 AP. 

 

I had GM-100 and it easily held my AP 152mm F9 triplet like there was nothing on it. The GM-100 is more robust than a G11. With that long tube, I think I would want something more robust than a G11.

 

The Losmandy GM-100 is old school and not a goto mount. 

 

There is one on craigslist for $650 USD without the tripod. HERE is a link.

 

Below is a picture of that mount.

 

Good luck

 

Bob

 

 

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[CHASLX200]

Hi Chas,

 

I noticed you and I have 2 things we have in common, we both are visual astronomers who love non-goto slow-mo mounts, and we both have good sky seeing for high magnification planetary observation.

 

Yes I noted your ad that you are selling off AP900 QMD with scopes. I just need to buy the AP900 QMD (without the scopes) if you dont mind to ship it over, as it is harder for me to fly over to pick up in Florida... lol. If you can't split and must sell as full set for local pick-up only, that's fine.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep looking.

No way i would ship and risk a total loss for even 20k.  Now if a buyer wants to deal with having a service pick it up and pack and ship it when i am ready freddie. As long as i get paid and i take no risk i will sell my sole nole.  After the broken $1200 pellet gun i am scared 2 death to ship anything let alone over seas.

Edited by CHASLX200, 09 May 2025 - 05:56 PM.

[CHASLX200]

If you can find a Losmandy GM-100 (not the g11)  that mount with a losmandy tripod will easily hold your 6" F12 AP. 

 

I had GM-100 and it easily held my AP 152mm F9 triplet like there was nothing on it. The GM-100 is more robust than a G11. With that long tube, I think I would want something more robust than a G11.

 

The Losmandy GM-100 is old school and not a goto mount. 

 

There is one on craigslist for $650 USD without the tripod. HERE is a link.

 

Below is a picture of that mount.

 

Good luck

 

Bob

Always wanted one of them blue deals. I was never hot over my 7 G11's so i wonder if it is any better.

[jragsdale]

No way i would ship and risk a total loss for even 20k.  Now if a buyer wants to deal with having a service pick it up and pack and ship it when i am ready freddie. As long as i get paid and i take no risk i will sell my sole nole.  After the broken $1200 pellet gun i am scared 2 death to ship anything let alone over seas.