I purchased a new 12" LX200 GPS telescope in August of 2005 for the express purpose of doing J and H band photometry. I needed a permanent mount so I decided to modify my observatory holding my 6" refractor. I added a 12" concrete form and filled it with concrete. A 1" thick 14" diameter aluminum plate was used as the mount base. I designed my own mount using 0.5" aluminum plate. I purchased a 24" square 0.5" thick aluminum plate along with the 1" thick 14" diameter aluminum plate from a salvage company for $98.

Wooden Mount Mockup

Plates were cut with a 10" radial arm saw fitted with a carbide tipped blade. Multiple passes were required to create the cuts.

Present Page Version as of 16 August 2006

phxjeff@hposoft.com

www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html