COMPANY SEVEN RISER FOR QUESTAR TRISTAND AND ASTROPIER
Company Seven’s solution for the Tristand or the Astropier Head elevation limits.

Overview: the Sun will rise to it’s highest elevation in the sky near noon each day, in our Washington D.C. area for example on the day of the Summer Solstice the Sun will rise up to 74 degrees above the horizon. In June of 2017 Mr. D. Illig, one of our local clients, was preparing to image the coming August 21 Total Solar Eclipse. He noticed that when his large Canon EOS digital SLR camera was attached to his Questar 3-½ telescope, the curved northern tip of the Tristand Head Elevation Axis hindered his pointing the Questar 3-½ telescope high enough to reach the Sun.

Company Seven has been offering the elegant Tristand Head on the shorter Tristand, and also as the Astropier in a taller configuration, for some decades with only one other client ever before contacting us about experiencing this limitation. He was operating a professional Nikon 35mm SLR film camera with optional Motor Drive and an Intervalometer attached. This camera was attached to the Axial Port of his Questar 3-½, and all this supported by his Tristand. For this client Company Seven had developed an extension that could be attached onto the Tristand Head platform, this elevated his telescope and provided enough clearance so that he could photograph the Sun at any time of the year from his location.

Given the increasing bulk of DSLR cameras, and motivated to help our customer, Company Seven revised our prior solution and in July 2017 introduced our revised Riser. The Riser installs between the round telescope support plate and the elevation axis. Company Seven’s Tristand Head Riser elevates a Questar 3-½ telescope and any attached large camera or other payload by 2.75 inches, thus permitting the user to point the telescope up to higher elevations of the sky without binding against the curved end of the Tristand Head Elevation Axis. The Questar telescope attaches, as before, onto the telescope support plate and it retains full compatibility with the telescope AC power cord, Powerguide I, Powerguide II, or Powerguide III.

Right: Tristand Head shown with Company Seven’s optional Riser installed (72,480 bytes).

Eyepiece Position: while this was developed to better accommodate bulkier cameras, a side benefit of the Riser is how this raises the telescope platform by 70mm so the eyepiece position of the Questar 3-½ telescope is higher. So if when sitting at the Tristand (or standing at the Astropier) you find the eyepiece position is a little low for your comfort, then adding the Riser may add just enough height to result in a more comfortable telescope eyepiece position.

Installation: Company Seven’s Tristand Head Riser is made to be installed with only one Allen Wrench, between the Tristand/Astropier Head Elevation Axis and the telescope support platform.

To install the Riser simply:

1. set the elevation control of the head to level the platform, parallel to the ground.
2. Unscrew and remove the four stainless steel bolts that attach the round telescope support platform.
3. Gently lift off the telescope support platform along with the ¼-20 tpi bolt and it’s knurled knob, set these off to the side.
4. Place the ¼-20 tpi bolt and knurled knob assembly onto the U shaped recess of the Riser, threaded end up.
5. Set the telescope support platform onto the Riser, then attach the platform onto the Riser with the two short bolts using holes nearest the ¼-20 tpi bolt.
6. Install the Riser/Platform assembly onto the Tristand Head elevation axis, securing this by the two long bolts.

Company Seven’s Tristand Head Riser is fully precision machined in the U.S.A. of aluminum, then anodized and finished to exactly match the finish of the Tristand Head. Furthermore, this Riser does not compromise rigidity or stability of an attached telescope.

The Riser adds only about 13.7 oz. (388 gr) of weight, and 2.75 inches (70 mm) of height so this can be left installed to the Head for routine transport and storage. However, if you prefer to carry this as a bit shorter assembly then the Riser can be removed then stored in a narrow slot of a carry case; do remember to pack the Allen Wrench. It requires only a couple of minutes of effort to install or to remove the Riser from the Tristand Head.

For more information about how to work your way through the decision making process of choosing and specifying a Questar 3-½" telescope, the common accessories, and desirable options please feel free to call us or send an E-mail inquiry, or visit our showroom. You may find more help by referring to the articles in our Questar Library section on line.