Our 60mm CompactGuide scope is a finder and a guide scope at the same time! It offers an achromatic lens with 60mm diameter and 240mm focal length (f/4), 80mm PLUS support rings (each with 3 screws with nylon tip) and a non-rotating helical focuser with connection for 31.8mm accessories. Together with the extension, the focuser lets you reach the focus point both with eyepieces (for use as a finder) and with guide cameras (for use as a small guide scope).
Designed for use with many guide cameras (which you can insert in the 31.8mm focuser connection or screw on the T2 thread of the focuser), it also works as a great optical finder when you add a 31.8mm eyepiece! The 60mm CompactGuide scope has a precision helical focuser that keeps the orientation of the connected camera. When you act on the focus mechanism, the camera does not rotate, and this feature is essential for proper use with autoguiding software. The precision helical focuser has a 12mm travel.
Inside the box of the 60mm CompactGuide scope with PLUS 80mm guide rings, you will also find 2 additional plates that you use when you install the guide scope on top of the EAGLE. By adding these plates, you get a flat base for an optimal connection with the 4 M5x12 screws that come in the box.
60mm CompactGuide scope with PLUS 80mm guide rings: scope of delivery
60mm CompactGuide scope with PLUS 80mm guide rings
Extension
2 additional plates for installation on the EAGLE
4 M5x12 screws
4 M6x12 screws
- very much like the convenience of the brighter stars compared to a 50mm finder
- can using just a normal eyepiece easily find targets directly onto a CCD image of only 25’ to 20’.
Using an 18mm ocular I look into the finder from a distance where the image narrows down to only its center. Then I observe that the finder body also aligns at the center of the PLUS Guide Rings. If the finder is aligned with the scope, whatever is in the finder, will appear in the image that I have set to exposure continuously for a few seconds on 3x3 binning and autostretch. If the target doesn't have any 'hopping starts' immediately to it, I use further out hopping stars normally, and then make sure that as I move backwards away from the finder the narrowing image centers on the targeted location. This is also the way I use to align the finder.