Whitby & District Astronomical Society

The Society has a new GOTO equatorial mount purchased from an extremely kind and generous (Mr I Rigby) in Egton, who unfortunately was not able to utilise it anymore. The mount is a Celestron AVX equatorial with steel 2" tripod legs and Next star hand controller with a database of 40,000 objects - not dissimilar to the skywatcher controller. The mount is in mint condition and will take a payload of 14 kg - so most optical tubes up to 11" (330mm). The head saddle plate is compatible with narrow CG-5 dovetails, wider CGE dovetails and also compatible with Vixen format dovetails. The Advanced VX mount was specifically designed to provide optimum imaging performance for smaller telescopes and has All -Star Polar Alignment and auto-guider support. Once we have purchased another CG -5 or CGE dovetail saddle and rings to suit the 130mm Skywatcher refractor we have, extra options will be available for tracking objects at star parties, or even astro-imaging.   

Mr Rigby also had a Celestron OMNI 120 refractor and mount. The refractor had been used on the AVX mount, but again it was no longer required. This may have been another addition to the equipment locker room, but as it transpired once alerted that is was for sale society member Phil Richards bought it to use as a solar scope. This enabled the borrowed Helios 100mm refractor and mount Phil was using to be returned back to the society 'refractor tube trunk'.  Think Phil was delighted with Celestron and mount. All in all I believe some good business was done of benefit to all parties.