Hi all,
I started Astrophotography last year, which by far is the best hobby I've ever taken up in my life. I let visual go as I concentrated on astrophotography and, plus, it became too damn cold in the mountains of Western North Carolina to endure shivering in front of an eyepiece. I was just getting going targeting with a Telrad when I stopped and only put out astro rigs where I could see stuff and monitor progress on my iPad in the warm comfort of my living room.
Then warmer weather came in the last couple of weeks so last Friday night I left the Dob in the garage and decided to try the AZ-EQ5 with an ES AR152 to do some visual while testing out 2 Astro rigs. Before this, I'd had the 8" out twice and used a Telrad to find targets a couple of times.
But the AZ-EQ5…Talk about a religious experience…the AZ-EQ5 was super accurate and sturdy after alignment and helped me see more targets than I've ever seen before in one night, from globular clusters to galaxies to the Ring and Dumbbell nebulae. That mount combined with that scope took my breath away.
I still have more, way more, to learn about the sky but, man, using a sturdy Alt/Az mount to traverse the skies was freakin outstanding. Definitely, a night to remember (beyond marrying my wife, my two children being born, etc., LOL.)
I can't wait to get that mount out again. But, alas, the weather has been HORRIBLE here in Western NC. Truly depressing. I don't see a clear night in the forecast, AT ALL. Ugh.
Anyway, the AZ-EQ5 has been a good mount for Astro, too. A very good purchase and highly recommended.
Clear skies and cheers!
Rob
I started Astrophotography last year, which by far is the best hobby I've ever taken up in my life. I let visual go as I concentrated on astrophotography and, plus, it became too damn cold in the mountains of Western North Carolina to endure shivering in front of an eyepiece. I was just getting going targeting with a Telrad when I stopped and only put out astro rigs where I could see stuff and monitor progress on my iPad in the warm comfort of my living room.
Then warmer weather came in the last couple of weeks so last Friday night I left the Dob in the garage and decided to try the AZ-EQ5 with an ES AR152 to do some visual while testing out 2 Astro rigs. Before this, I'd had the 8" out twice and used a Telrad to find targets a couple of times.
But the AZ-EQ5…Talk about a religious experience…the AZ-EQ5 was super accurate and sturdy after alignment and helped me see more targets than I've ever seen before in one night, from globular clusters to galaxies to the Ring and Dumbbell nebulae. That mount combined with that scope took my breath away.
I still have more, way more, to learn about the sky but, man, using a sturdy Alt/Az mount to traverse the skies was freakin outstanding. Definitely, a night to remember (beyond marrying my wife, my two children being born, etc., LOL.)
I can't wait to get that mount out again. But, alas, the weather has been HORRIBLE here in Western NC. Truly depressing. I don't see a clear night in the forecast, AT ALL. Ugh.
Anyway, the AZ-EQ5 has been a good mount for Astro, too. A very good purchase and highly recommended.
Clear skies and cheers!
Rob
