Single Axis and Dual Axis?
Wat difference?
Are they essential for astrophotography?
Can an EQ3-2 mount be fitted with one?
Thanks.....
Simple questions....
single axis means the mount can track in RA, follow the motion of the stars if the mount is properly aligned. the hand controller usually have 2 buttons, start and stop. and a switch to select direction and another switch for the tracking speed, 1x, 2x, 4x, etc.
dual axis means the hand controller and be used to move the scope around in both axis. usually the RA will just have a start and stop button and a switch to change direction. the dec will have more goodies, will allow u to move in either direction of declination wif just a press of the button. same as single axis, u will have the speed selection.
most eq mounts can be fit wif at least single axis drive. not cheap though. u will need the motor drive, hand controller and a battery pack. for some mounts u may need to get the manual clutch as well. ask the person who supplied the mount for help.
for astrophotography single axis is enough. but unlikely u will wan to use such a mount. most people go for at least a gp mount.
maybe the next time we go obbing, u can try looking at one of the dual axis controllers.
dual axis drives usually just drive me crazy, hate using those. respond of the motor drive is usually sluggish. u will need to balance the equipment properly b4 it will even work.
~MooEy~
dual axis means the hand controller and be used to move the scope around in both axis. usually the RA will just have a start and stop button and a switch to change direction. the dec will have more goodies, will allow u to move in either direction of declination wif just a press of the button. same as single axis, u will have the speed selection.
most eq mounts can be fit wif at least single axis drive. not cheap though. u will need the motor drive, hand controller and a battery pack. for some mounts u may need to get the manual clutch as well. ask the person who supplied the mount for help.
for astrophotography single axis is enough. but unlikely u will wan to use such a mount. most people go for at least a gp mount.
maybe the next time we go obbing, u can try looking at one of the dual axis controllers.
dual axis drives usually just drive me crazy, hate using those. respond of the motor drive is usually sluggish. u will need to balance the equipment properly b4 it will even work.
~MooEy~
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weixing
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Hi,
For the EQ3-2 mount, get the Single Axis motor drive will be enough, don't waste your money to get a dual axis one... I know because I got one...
Anyway, it is quite useful for visual and short exposure astrophotography, especially at high magnification when the motor drive will allow your target to stay in the Field of View longer(depend on your mount alignment and the motor drive periodic error).
For the EQ3-2 mount, get the Single Axis motor drive will be enough, don't waste your money to get a dual axis one... I know because I got one...
Anyway, it is quite useful for visual and short exposure astrophotography, especially at high magnification when the motor drive will allow your target to stay in the Field of View longer(depend on your mount alignment and the motor drive periodic error).
Yang Weixing
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance."
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." -
harlequin2902
- Posts: 744
- Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2003 11:04 am
- Location: Singapore, Sengkang
And do take note that regardless of whether you're using the drives for hands free tracking for visual observing or for astrophotography, it's important that your mount must first be set accurately to your viewing location's latitude (in Singapore's case ~ 1 degree) for the drives to work accurately, or else there is no point attaching drives at all as the tracking will not be accurate. For even greater accuracy (in the case of astrophotography), you may want to check out Weixing's nice write up on "Drift Alignment" on this forum.
Samuel Ng