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Astronomy/Equatorial Mount Question

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Expert: Steven LJ Russo - 6/1/2008


Question
Hi Mr. Russo,

I found a nice used equatorial mount that I'd like to snap up, but it will mostly be used out of a south-facing apartment balcony.  I've never owned an equatorial mount before.  Since I can't see the north star from my balcony will this mount be completely worthless in my situation or can I still use it like an alt-az without setting it up?

Thanks very much!

Answer
Josh.

Quite frankly, I am not a fan of Equatorial mounts.  More of a pain in the *** than they are worth.  Too much alignment time unless it is mounted in a permanant spot.

My one equatorial mount telescope that I have, I just use as an Alt-Azi.

Steve

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Steven LJ Russo

Expertise

As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.

Experience

Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.

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