Re: [APML] Qustions about Orion's Atlas mount

[astropix@att.net]

 Hello Robert...

     During the WSP '03 last Feb... I had the opportunity to do a true 'side by 
side' comparison of my CI-700 and the 'Atlas' mount. A fellow set up the Atlas 
*right* beside me... in fact, so close it had to be moved a little so both of 
us could walk around our own stuff and not interfere with the other!

     I lent my knowledge of polar alignment while attaining sufficient spacing 
between us... I also looked the mount over during daylight. Sturdy for the 
visual crowd... but lacking for imagers... especially long exposure film 
imagers. The overall impression is a decent piece of cast aluminum... with a 
minimum of machine operations... a CG-5 on steroids!   :O)

     The polar bore scope was very crude... huge field of view with no reticle. 
Not so much a problem for a drift aligned pier placement... but indicative of 
the engineering approach to this piece of equipment. These mounts do have a 
serious payload capacity... but the precision of the assembly *will* vary by 
the design constraints. On the example I was privy to... RA corrections were 
frequent for visual use at high magnifications... no attempt to measure PE was 
made.

     Long story short... you could probably fine tune one of these mounts to 
deliver acceptable performance for relatively short exposures of film or CCD. 
They are great for visual use right out of the box! After playing with the one 
at WSP, I'd have to recommend spending a little more for a CI-700 or the 
ubiquitous G-11.  

 FWIW...

 Geoff Powers

--
http://home.att.net/~astropix/


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