Takahashi clamshell CGE mount fit.

Here's how to fit a Takahashi 'clamshell' holder to a Celestron CGE mount.

The only addition was a couple of screws and nuts either side of the metric one supplied with the 7" plate.

Bought from :- First Light Optics. DUP7-M Metric.

The other thing you'll need is a lighter counter balance weight.

Imaging Comet Hartley 2 last night.

Takahashi piggy backed onto C9.25.

Shot with my HTC Desire phone.

M13 through Takahashi Sky-90

I just bought a new T-piece coupler for my Tak. I had been using the incorrect nose-piece connected to the EP holder before now, see below.

So here is a full frame of M13 as my first test image.

48min, bias, flats and darks. No guiding 45sec subs.

50% reduced:-

Cropped 70% :-


Here are the bits:-
This is the correct configuration, which gives the correct FR distance.

and this is the old setup:-

The rings fitted together:-

The separate pieces:-

These items were obtained from Green-witch.
CA35 Camera Coupling No 30 - Ref. TAK-TKA35201
Wide T-Mount No 33 - Ref. TMW0004 (not available in Europe, but made up by Green-Witch)
I know that this all looks a bit mundane, but it taken me ages to sort this out without resorting to buying something from the states.

Takahashi - Flattener/Reducer

I bought a flattener/reducer for the Tak today.
The Sky-90 is usable for visual without it... just, but for imaging you've gotta have one. Turns the scope into an f/4.5.
Great service from Green-Witch and Lee :-)

Below are the results from a very quick test that I carried out at lunch-time.

Without flattener/reducer.

... and with flattener/reducer.

BTW, you can't use a Meade f/6.3 reducer on these scopes, it doesn't work, I've tried it.

More Tak test shots.

Why jump out of a perfectly usable aircraft? so that I can test my Tak.

Tak test shot.

Can't wait to use this scope, until the weather clears you'll have to make do with my roof ;-)
I focused on the wood, good old live view.

Major upgrade - Phase two - Takahashi SKY-90

Here's my new wide field scope, the Takahashi SKY-90.

I'm not going to do an in-depth review here, just some general observations.

Great service from Green Witch, good price as well as it came with the clamp, which is important for balancing. If you're going to spend a couple thousand you want the right stuff.

It was well packed in a triple boxed box. Although Green Witch did inspect it before sending it out.

First impressions out of the box... wow! This is a class act!. It feels really well made. I'm scared to touch it. The adjustments are so smooth and the fits are perfect.

I managed to bolt the clamp to my spare AS-GT small dovetail bar and stick it on the mount. There seems plenty of room for balancing once a DSLR camera is slung on the end, it feels just right.

Shame its cloudy tonight, although I did have a quick look at next doors TV aerial... and very interesting it was too.