EQ Platform - Boon for Dobsonians !

       

               This is about the Equatorial Platform I recently ordered from Dr. Rakesh Patel. I've been using this for couple of months now.  This product deserves a review and must reach to the people who use DSLRs and dobsonion telescopes.

What's the need?

Dobsonian telescopes are popular instruments. They provide large apertures for a reasonable price and are suited to observing faint, deep-sky objects. Their wide optics can also cope with high magnifications. They usually operate based on Alt-Azimuth method, means one axis moves it vertically while the other moves it horizonatlly. These motions are manual. User has to move the telescope according to the target.
Here is the picture of our Guan Sheng - 12 inch Dobsonian Telescope.

Guan Sheng 12 inch Dobsonian Telescope - Amateur Astronomers Group, Pune - www.puneastro.in

As you are aware that all the stars, planets, moon, deep-sky objects, etc rise from east, as time passes, they move forward in night sky and set on west.
A fixed telescope can have any particular target in field of few for very tiny amount of time- only for few seconds. By then, the object in the sky has moved forward, but rememeber the telescope has not moved. So you need to adjust the telescope a little to get the object again in field of view.

Motion of an object by the time in given FOV

For smaller telescope, this is done by the automated equatorial mounts. The motor keeps the telescope rotating exactly at the same rate that of an object being observed.
However, large aperture telescopes are bulky and heavy and hence traditional equatorial mounts are not suitable for them.

What's an Equatorial Platform?

An equatorial platform or equatorial table is an equatorial telescope mount in the form of a specially designed platform that allows any device sitting on it to track astronomical objects in the sky on an equatorial axis.
They are used to give equatorial tracking to any device sitting on them, from small cameras up to heavy observatories. They are often used with altazimuth mounted telescopes, such as the common Dobsonian telescope type, to overcome that type of mount's inability to track the night sky.

Block Diagram of Equatorial Mount

These platforms can track upto 45-50 minutes, which in my opinion are more than enough for long exposure photography.
If you wish to go in details about how it works, you can visit the wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_platform

Our equatorial platform - Made to order from Dr. Rakesh Patel (Gujarat).

Readymade equatorial platforms are very costly, especially in India. Luckily, well known astro-photographer Prabhu Kutti gave me the contact of Dr. Rakesh Patel.
Rakesh has built several equatorial platforms. I placed an order and after a month the platform arrived. My telescope is GSO 12" Dob - pretty standard and widely used, hence Rakesh took most of the details about it from the internet. I only have to share my location details from where I am going to operate the mount.

Getting Started
When the package arrived, it was intact, nicely wrapped in foam bottoms. Separate boxes for the controller and adapter.
It has a solid Alluminium body, which makes is stronger to carry upto 50Kgs of payload. It is very light weight, just around 7 Kgs, making it easily portable.
Metal body makes it weather proof as well.

Rakesh has done adequate markings on the platform, and mentioned the exact place of every attachment. A special ramp for laser pointer, for preceise alignment.
Assembly is pretty easy ans straight forward.
Platform operates on 12V DC. I connect it to my power bank(special homemade connector USB-to-DC).

 

 

Tracking

Please note- the tracking durations mentioned below are approximate.
Planets:
With 9mm eyepice (172x magnification) - Saturn and Jupiter.
Precise tracking for more than 10 minutes. In 10-12 minutes, very small change in the object position can be noticed. But object stays relatively at center of FOV for about 20 minutes.

Stars and DSOs:
With 30mm eyepice (50x magnification) - Objects stracked - Vega, Sirius, Orion
Very precise tracking for more than 25 minutes.

Moon:
With 30mm eyepice (50x magnification)
Very precise tracking for around 25 minutes.

With 9mm eyepice (172x magnification)
After 8-10 minutes, a small drift in the image can be noticed.

Saturn - GSO 12" Dob - Sony a7iii - stacked

Jupiter - GSO 12" Dob - Sony a7iii - stacked

Limitations:
When telescope is pointed towards the near east or west horizon, the shaft fails to lift the payload from its initial position.
There is a quick fix for this - put some counter weight such as water bottle, on the opposite end of the mount.

Precise tracking duration is expected to be about 45 minutes. But in reality, it is limited to 20-25 minutes only. A little adjustments can further extend it to 40 minutes.

Pros:

Equatorial platform is a boon for dobsonian telescopes. Even 10 minutes of precise tracking is more than enough for anyone doing long exposure photography. Mount gives you approx 25 minutes of precise tracking, and with little adjustments, you can utilize it fully for 40 minutes.
Payload capacity upto 50Kgs !! This will include your telescope, dobsonian stand, finder scope, eyepice, extenstion tubes, camera and literally anything you put on your telescope. What else you want!
Easy to assemble, easy to carry, easy to use.
This can be used with Cameras and small telescopes also. Great way to may your equipment  auto-tracked !
This mount is made in India, and available at very cheap price compared to readymade mounts available in the market.
Strongly recommanded.

Contact - Dr. Rakesh Patel - 9913531014
 

Cheers,
Happy Sky Gazing Everyone !
Amateur Astronomers Group




Comments

Amit
I own a 10" Dobsonian white tube telescope (GSO made). What will be the approximate cost of EQ. platform?
14-11-2024 04:33 pm
Saharsh Thakur
i am interested to buy the mount i just want to know how good it is for deep space astrophotography and its price
18-03-2023 09:45 pm
Rakesh Patel
Thank you everyone for valuable reviews on my RS eq platform. i m trying to give my best to my clients.thank u Bhushan for this blog. Eq platform is helping a lot to do something from yr dobsonian telescopes,i m also recommend it to use as a skytracker for dslr on proper setup.for anything related to it I m available on 9913531014 on WhatsApp and regular calls
19-11-2022 05:07 pm
Nimesh Mistry
Thanks for sharing detailed article.. will surely contact Mr. Rakesh Patel.
10-11-2022 08:52 pm
Ankit Kumar
I was eagerly browsing the internet for a Goto system or a tracker for my 12" Dobsonian from GSO(white tube). Whenever there was a star party in my house along with friends and families, it was a continuous problem for us that the objects move away from the FOV in 5-8 seconds (depending on the Eyepieces used). I had to continuously align the telescope to the object. I found Dr. Rakesh in this Blog hoping, if it was really possible that this platform will let you track for around 50mins, And the Objects in the FOV will remain there for almost 1 hour. Once my Platform got delivered(on Dhanteras, yes Astronomical Gears are Gold to me) and Dr. Rakesh was patiently guiding me on the assembly and when i witnessed myself using the EQ platform Made by him, It's really Accurate. The Construction is really strong. Trust me you would do a great favour to yourself if you need a tracking device for your manual Dobsonian or even for Refractor telescope if you could build up a Pier n attach it considering the COG. Thanks a Lot Dr. Rakesh Patel, you are really fulfilling our dreams at a very small price. Hope you get a lot of progress in the field. 22-10-2022, 2300Hrs
23-10-2022 03:29 pm
Travis Higgerson
I’m in the United States, do you mail over seas?
30-06-2022 01:01 am
Kazi Khayer
I am thankful to this blog as well as the blogger(s). I was in need of such an EQ platform but helpless as to who to contact. Yesterday, I contacted Dr Patel. He is available on WhatsApp at the number given in this blog. I am going to place an order for one.
27-07-2021 11:35 am
m3
thanks for the article. the last 3 images are not loading. please check.
21-07-2021 12:15 am
Mr Dob
its rs 20000 for 8 inch
06-05-2021 07:55 pm
GS Singh
What's price for 8 inch gso dob
31-03-2021 11:26 pm
Rishabh
How much did the equatorial platform cost?
23-12-2020 04:24 pm
Prajwal
Great work Dr. I tried reaching him, but no reply. Help me know his contact number pls? 9945137636 my number
23-11-2020 08:32 pm
Lav kumar
It is an innovative equipment. I hope that it is fully succeeding in its function. Please make a video of it and put it on YouTube.So that we too can see and benefit from this EQ platform and its function.Thanks.
22-09-2020 05:11 pm
Vishal Sharma
Great work by Dr. Rakesh Patel and Congratulations to bhushan for the new mount.
01-05-2020 12:43 pm
Vikrant Soni
Nice to see that this product is available within India, interested to know more about it .
18-04-2020 04:40 pm

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