Ad Astra Observatory

I recently discovered that the counterweight shaft on the G-11 has a 3/8”-16 threaded hole, which is a standard photographic thread pitch. This left open the prospect of mounting a camera at the end of the CW shaft.

It turns out that all my photo gear is 1/4”-20 threaded (another popular size), but I cobbled together an adapter while I decide how to proceed.

Here’s a photo:

So the C9.25 is at the top of the Dec axis (the normal position), with the Nikon D70 at prime focus (don’t start with the “Cassegrain focus stuff”). The Canon 300D is mounted at the end of the CW shaft on a Bogen ballhead mount. I should get a Bogen ballhead that takes 3/8” at some point. This one takes 1/4”.

But for now, the two cameras are pointed at the same object in the sky, for (in theory) a dual widefield/DSO shot. Cool!