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[peetyg]

Gentleman, I am not sure what to do. I currently have 9.25 cpc edge hd on fork mount. This is easy for visual and not great for AP. My understanding CGEM would be best for AP. Downside more time consuming for polar alignment. Option 2, would be add a wedge to my existing fork mount, but it seems like lot of chatter not to. Option 3 add a Hyperstar to existing fork mount limit exposure to 30 seconds. Not sure if Hyperstar is Hype or reality works well. In regards to CGEM. I have also heard problems with Dec axis, but ok with visual. I thought about using a modified 550D by Canon. Your guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks

PeetyG

[patrickm]

I have no fork experience, but I think you wanna go with CGEM & forget the fork and wedge.

For long exposure AP, alignment will always be a factor if you are using a scope and mount that must be reassembled each time. Only way around it that I know of is a pier in a small, private observatory of some sort.

Am sure others will have more direct experience that they can share.
p

[Paulie pchris00]

As a Dobsonian owner, you can completely disregard my advice, but I would second the CGEM.

I've seen good work with a Hyperstar on a C14, but the exposures were longer than 30 seconds. I'm not sure how many 30 exposures it would take to pull deep sky detail through stacking. Which goes back to the recommendation of the CGEM.

[-=CROMAN=-]

CGEM FTW!

[peetyg]

would it make sense to get a cgem and put it on a scope buggy as I would need to take it down everynight.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Forks are ok, but I would not get one for me personally.

The twin arms of the fork can act like a tuning fork, disrupting steady viewing with breezes. And the way the fork is, one has limited space between the focuser and the top of the base - limiting what can be attached, (cameras etc...), when hitting 45 degrees in elevation and above.

The wedge is a heavy piece to lug around and takes up a lot of space. One of our Chicago Astronomer friends has one and is not happy with it...for the above reasons.

EQ mount for the win.

[patrickm]

If you've got a place to keep it, a buggy would be awesome. Would greatly reduce setup time. Would still need to do alignments, of course, but would knock down 30 mins set up and take down.

Wish I had a garage (or observatory).