Full view of the equatorial telescope platform Asterion.
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- An equatorial telescope platform as a budget alternative to an expensive equatorial mount.
The platform was acquired asterion-ag.blo...
I will answer all questions in the comments.
I would love to see how much this helps. I can understand this can help live observations or very short focal distance shots, but it will not be precise enough to hold the target needed for long time exposure
hi there, nice tutorial, i have 1 question, what kink of Dc motor are you using ? celestron or another brand ?
How do you find the motor drive? I have used the exact model, on my DIY equatorial platform. I have found it troublesome, in setting the tracking speed, in that you have to manually re-calibrate it, every single time. I have converted the drive, from 9VDC battery to use a lithium-ion 3S1P (11.1 V (nominal voltage) @~1850mAh), which delivers a constant 9VDC through a buck converter-actually LED driver, but constant current not necessary.
Am wanting to convert the manual potentiometer to digital, so I can store the various tracking speeds (ie. sidereal, lunar, planetary) to memory.
Hi, i am interested in buying this, does it track the sky well? I need to do astrophotography with my 6 inch dobsonian
Hey there. Can you please update us on how this platform has performed. Lots of us out here really need info before we buy it. I just want to know if tracking is smooth. I don't care if it's perfectly accurate. I just want it to be smooth
Does it enable you to do Astrophotography if you attach a dslr to the telescope?
Allows, but it is necessary to fine-tune the motor speed.
Nice platform, how much u pay for this?
Thank you!
What dob did you have on it.
It looks like SkyWatcher 10'' to me, but I may be wrong.
can i fit a 12 inch dob on it ?
I just aquired one of these. (Currently production is ceased, in Ukraine, but a few outlest have a little stock). I'll post some results in due course but first impressions are mixed. It's nicely made, quite similar in design to Thomas Jacquin's on instructables. But the tracking speed appears to have a distinct short period wobble, which will be an issue if I can't cure it. I THINK this probably represents the effect of a splined steel roller driving an essentially smooth edge on an alumunium sector. If so it may perhaps be possible to use the roller to press a corresponding "rack" into the edge of the sector, but I don't think in practice that could get rid of the problem completely. Perhaps a layer of rubber of felt is a better answer. But before doing any of that I'll try and elimate the possibility that the Celestron motor drive itself is introducing a speed wobble.
Impossible to tell how the motor drive shaft is mounted. Does it have bearings (or similar), through which the spindle rotates? This should create a more frictionless motion.
After a closer look, at the vid, you may be correct, the VNB's do appear narrow. My DIY platform's front sector bearings (routered wood, with stainless steel rulers fastened to the bearing bases, are about 17mm wide. The non-drive bearing support utilises twin roller bearings, for less friction). My drive shaft isn't run through bearings; it is an M4 threaded rod, which is mounted through aluminium brackets, that have smooth, close-fitting turnedshims, that are lock-nutted in place, to prevent longitudinal movement. The actual driveshaft bearing contact is a number of steel wide-bodied washers. With the drive removed, I can easily track the platform, with the 'scope mounted, using thumb, & finger.
One other possibility could be the rear (south) bearing pivot. Does this allow for complete, free motion, of the platform's top base? I used a similar wooden bearing (to my front sector bearings), which are also tracked, on 3x ball (skateboard-type) bearings (2x bottom bearings, & 1x side, locating bearing). I haven't used my 'scope in quite a while, as it is {nearly} constantly cloudy, where I live, but don't remember any tracking issues, except for the ones cited in the above comment. All the best, with your troubleshooting, & are able resolve the situation. Clear skies.
Did you have any luck fixing it? I am looking at one but don't want to buy it and be disappointed, I have seen models that are belt driven which has less slip but they are twice the price. So if you could share any fixes for the issue that would be great.
А субтитры нельзя было включить, или говорить по русски?
They are hard to find that are affordable in my opinion.
There are 4 types of asterion.Why are you so leisy and not mention wich type is ?
It must be real North not magnetic North!