Tracking mounts and the Moon

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Ylem United States of America
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Tracking mounts and the Moon

#1

Post by Ylem »


Just wondering how many folks use tracking mounts for visual observing of the Moon?

I admit I have ignored the Moon since I was a kid, but as I age I am looking forward to spending more time studying it.
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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#2

Post by Don Quixote »


I enjoy using a tracking mount when observing the moon. I like to spend hours, when the sky permits, to follow the moon across the sky. I think I see the view change in subtle ways as it tracks the ecliptic as the sunlight strikes my location on earth at slightly different angles as we spin east.

I have an old LXD 75 mount the works very well for this.

The moon offers a great deal to observe throughout its cycle. I hope you can enjoy it as much as I have.
Clear skies to you, Jeff.
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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#3

Post by bladekeeper »


If you are using high power to really drill down for the detail, a tracking mount is quite useful. You can study and stare all you want and not have to nudge the mount and possibly lose your spot. :)
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#4

Post by Ylem »


I am thinking of picking up one of those Explore Scientific Exos EQs for my 90mm Mak ;)
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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#5

Post by Bigzmey »


Tracking is nice to have for any high power views, lunar, planets or doubles.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#6

Post by JayTee »


A tracking mount is only necessary when you get tired of -- observe, reposition, observe, reposition, observe, reposition -- every 15 seconds!

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∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#7

Post by Altocumulus »


Remembering, of course, to set lunar tracking.....
Just call me Geoff....

I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing :mrgreen:
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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#8

Post by notFritzArgelander »


Altocumulus wrote: Sun Mar 08, 2020 7:27 am Remembering, of course, to set lunar tracking.....
Yes, it's nice when the mounts have that capability especially on evenings when the seeing permits silly magnification! On more casual occasions I don't bother.

I usually observe the Moon on my CG5 with the Intes MK66 or SV ED80A. Or I use the VMC110L on the Orion Star Seeker III. The latter is not an EQ but handles tracking well enough.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#9

Post by Piet Le Roux »


If you observing the moon it will not be long before you would want to photograph it. With a tracking mount which is tracking at lunar rate you have much more time to concentrate on camera settings, reducers etc. I would take a few shots, view them on my computer and when I return and it would be right where I left it .
Main Equipment : Tele Vue 27mm Panoptic, 7&13mm Nagler, Big Barlow : 8" Meade LX90ACF with Meade 2.0" Enhanced Diagonal : Camera Fuji XT100
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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#10

Post by Altocumulus »


Piet Le Roux wrote: Sun Mar 08, 2020 8:56 am If you observing the moon it will not be long before you would want to photograph it. With a tracking mount which is tracking at lunar rate you have much more time to concentrate on camera settings, reducers etc. I would take a few shots, view them on my computer and when I return and it would be right where I left it .
Except the day / night you forgot about meridian flip! :animals-dogrun:
Just call me Geoff....

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It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing :mrgreen:
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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#11

Post by Piet Le Roux »


Altocumulus wrote: Sun Mar 08, 2020 9:39 am
Piet Le Roux wrote: Sun Mar 08, 2020 8:56 am If you observing the moon it will not be long before you would want to photograph it. With a tracking mount which is tracking at lunar rate you have much more time to concentrate on camera settings, reducers etc. I would take a few shots, view them on my computer and when I return and it would be right where I left it .
Except the day / night you forgot about meridian flip! :animals-dogrun:
I spend my "bad weather days" doing maintenance on my equipment and drive play and focuser backlash is at a minimum. I have read about "meridian flip" .... I have not witnessed it .
Main Equipment : Tele Vue 27mm Panoptic, 7&13mm Nagler, Big Barlow : 8" Meade LX90ACF with Meade 2.0" Enhanced Diagonal : Camera Fuji XT100
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Re: Tracking mounts and the Moon

#12

Post by Altocumulus »


Piet Le Roux wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 8:24 am
Altocumulus wrote: Sun Mar 08, 2020 9:39 am
Piet Le Roux wrote: Sun Mar 08, 2020 8:56 am If you observing the moon it will not be long before you would want to photograph it. With a tracking mount which is tracking at lunar rate you have much more time to concentrate on camera settings, reducers etc. I would take a few shots, view them on my computer and when I return and it would be right where I left it .
Except the day / night you forgot about meridian flip! :animals-dogrun:
I spend my "bad weather days" doing maintenance on my equipment and drive play and focuser backlash is at a minimum. I have read about "meridian flip" .... I have not witnessed it .
I have, a couple of times. The sun kept going and my telescope didn't keep up. It's a 'feature' on goto gems and easily ignored on ascom settings. It is to avoid collision between the mount and the telescope when the object is high.
Just call me Geoff....

I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing :mrgreen:
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