Sky Watcher 130 Explorer AZ GOTO is so juddery

[daveri...@gmail.com]

Has anyone got any hints on how to make the mount more rigid? There seems to be a massive amount of judder, even when re-focussing, for example. Thanks, Dave

[suthers]

If everything is nice and tight on the mount, then consider adding some weight as described here: http://www.skymania.com/wp/2006/10/keep-your-tripod-stable.html/34/

You will also find the vibrations showing up more if your mount is standing on concrete rather than your lawn, for example.

Paul

[Robin Scagell]

This is a matter of how much judder is acceptable! Even with a £3000 telescope such as the standard Schmidt-Cassegrain scopes, there is a lot of tremor when focusing. This makes accurate focusing a problem, in particular when you are trying to take an image. You have to tweak the focus, look at the image when it has settled down, tweak it again and see if it is any better, and so on. Other than getting a much sturdier mounting, the only solution is an electric focuser, but this is not feasible on a small scope such as yours as the focuser unit isn't designed to take one.

These budget telescopes are superb value and deliver excellent images for the price, but this sacrifices steadiness. Ideally one should be able to thump the side of the scope and it won't move, but few amateur instruments are engineered to this level. Windy nights can be a real trial. Adding weights as Paul suggests is the only practical solution, but there are many sources of vibration in a thin tube and lightweight mounting that can't be overcome.

Robin

On Monday, 31 December 2012 23:41:30 UTC, daveri...@gmail.com wrote: