Have you considered getting Digital setting circles?

Not too many seasoned 'scopers' use setting circles anyway if they aren't using a goto computer. CG-5 mounts have barely adequate setting circles. They are good mounts for the G-8 (I have one) IF...and I say "if"...you've done the CG-5 "retro-fit". New legs (wood), regrease and deburring and so on.

To use a fork mount, which is a bi-axial mount like a alt-az you can indeed use those type coordinates. The main draw back is that you cannot follow the sidereal rate on Polaris as you could on a EQ type. Of course the larger SCT's have computers to operate both axis, however the use of a derotator/wedge device is recommendable.

You can convert if you wish, but it can be costly depending on what you want and expect

• re: Changing from CG5 to Fork Mount? - ss8793 - March 9, 2002 - 13:03 UTC