Australian Sky & Telescope - April 2016__

http://www.skyandtelescope.com.au 73

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required angles for the platform

mathematically, Jerry took a

different approach. “I wound up

figuring out the proper curve

empirically by suspending the base

ring from a rope, pinning the south

pivot point into place, and tracing on

apieceofcardboardthearccreated

by moving the ring,” he explains.

The finished platform adds

only three kilograms to the scope

and10centimetrestoitseyepiece

height. But even that would be

excessive if the mount was flimsy

The mount’s T-assembly is shown with

the flex base ring removed. Note the

pair of arc segments that mount to the

underside of the scope’s base ring.

JERRY OLTION

or didn’t track well. So how does

it perform? “Like it isn’t even

there,” Jerry says. “The scope

feels just as stable as ever with no

extra settling time or detectable

play — the only real difference is

that objects stay centered in the

eyepiece for up to 50 minutes at a

time. And I have to remember not

to nudge the scope along.”

To read more about Jerry’s low-

profile equatorial platform, visit

his website at http://www.sff.net/people/j.

oltion/flexeq.htm. ✦

Contributing Editor Gary Seronik

is an experienced telescope maker.

You can contact him via his website,

garyseronik.com

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