Best Portable Visual Scope and Mount?

[KenMiller]

I'm going to be doing some travelling by car in some dark areas and would like to take a scope and mount with me for visual work.

The primary purpose of my travel is not astronomy so I'm only able to make modest accomodations as far as space and time for astronomical gear and observations.

All the gear I currently have is too big/heavy.

I'm looking for recommendations for a good smaller/lighter scope and mount that travels well (i.e. -stays collimated or, (less optimal) remains collimated) and is easy to set up/take down.

I'd like something smaller than a TOA-130 and a mount that tracks. If it needs a computer to be connected, that's OK.

I'm guessing refractors travel best?

Recommendations?

[tvuejohn]

Ken,
I rarely use my C 11 due to it's size anymore, and living in Los Angeles
where you have to drive an hour just to do anything. I often wonder which is the best scope.. because it must travel ( even my bike folds up)

I've come up with a fast 4 in. refractor on an Alt AZ mount.
Visually, lower power & wide fields allow use of an alt az mount so you don't need 12v power. (something else I don't want to pack.)
And it will also do daytime spotting / photography (something I like when camping / traveling)

I have access from 60 mm to 127mm as you probably know,
my "other "choice" oddly enough is the 60 mm. 10 ft close focus,
180 X & 360mm telephoto lens. Did mention 10 inches long.

[KenMiller]

Originally Posted by tvuejohn

I've come up with a fast 4 in. refractor on an Alt AZ mount.

What Alt AZ mount are you using? How did you get the refractor mounted in it?

I have a TSA-102 that I could probably live with as far as size and weight.

I don't think 12V power would be a problem for me.

[BT Technologies]

Hello Ken,

Since you already own a Takahashi TSA-102 APO triplet refractor I would recommend a EM-11 Temma mount with the adjustable wooden tripod.

This mount would be ideal as a perfect "travel" mount offering superb tracking and the Temma go-to interface.

[tvuejohn]

Ken,
I use an NP 101 in a Tele Pod for my easiest Grab n go setup.
What I like the most is it can get the Alt Axis to 62 inches so
I don't need to bend over much to see near straight up (I'm 5'9)
This combo isn't recomended by TV and I don't recomend it for powers
above 200X when fully extended. But you can add Sky Tour Digital
Setting Circles to fine those really faint subjects.