More scope refurbishments or start new?

  • #1
DaveC426913
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TL;DR Summary
Mirrors & mounts
I am debating whether to throw good money after bad, as it were.

My 5" Newt (Orbitor 4000) badly needs its secondary re-silvered. Debating on whether I might as well get the primary done at the same time, even though that will balloon the cost. Primary is in a lot better shape - I might be able to get away without doing it. Anyone know of any places in Ontario or even in Canada? I can't seem to find any that won't cost me customs taxes.

It is on a manual (eq) mount. With my webcam's mag, objects cross the FOV in about a minute, which makes for a lot of fiddling. If I want planets to be any larger than a large freckle on my laptop screen, I'll have to increase the mag, which will narrow the FOV even more, maybe even beyond the range of usability. I wonder if I should invest in a motor mount. Can it be cost effective to replace only the mount while keeping the scope and tripod?


Somebody else has the identical setup:

1736972379868.png
 
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  • #2
DaveC426913 said:
TL;DR Summary: Mirrors & mounts

I am debating whether to throw good money after bad, as it were.

My 5" Newt (Orbitor 4000) badly needs its secondary re-silvered. Debating on whether I might as well get the primary done at the same time, even though that will balloon the cost. Primary is in a lot better shape - I might be able to get away without doing it. Anyone know of any places in Ontario or even in Canada? I can't seem to find any that won't cost me customs taxes.

It is on a manual (eq) mount. With my webcam's mag, objects cross the FOV in about a minute, which makes for a lot of fiddling. If I want planets to be any larger than a large freckle on my laptop screen, I'll have to increase the mag, which will narrow the FOV even more, maybe even beyond the range of usability. I wonder if I should invest in a motor mount. Can it be cost effective to replace only the mount while keeping the scope and tripod?


Somebody else has the identical setup:

View attachment 355904
I recommend investing in a motor mount, one that can be controlled via laptop. :)
 

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