Weasner's Meade ETX TechTips

ETX TECHNICAL TIPS
Last updated: 1 February 2000

Equatorial Mounting on a Manfrotto Head

From: Mauro Da Lio (dalio@iol.it)

Here is a tip for setting the ETX in equatiorial mode using a standard Manfrotto head 056 (the cheapest head). I have noticed that the two orizontal axes of the head (i.e.: the roll and pith axes) may be rotated outwards up to 180 degree. By rotanting them about 120 - depending on the actual latitude of the observing location - yelds the configuration shown in Fig.1. The telescope may be aligned with the earth axis while its center of gravity stays well balanced over the tripod, much better than with the original meade's tripod (or other photographic tripods/heads).

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