Lightweight/transportable tracking mount

[marcosscriven]

Hi

I currently have a WO 72mm Apo, which fits in a nice small bag (living in central London I chose it specifically so I could take it easily on public transport out of the city).

I currently mount it on a Manfrotto tripod with 410 'junior' geared head (basically allows you to twizzle knobs on three axes).

Although it's very stable, and works well, I get tired of having to adjust every 30 seconds when looking at planets. It's also problematic when showing friends/family, as you have to keep adjusting it for them.

I don't currently have a need for Goto, or tracking accurate enough for long exposure AP, so wondering if anyone can recommend a tracking mount that's:

- lightweight

- easily transportable

- tracks with minimal power requirements

Thanks

[rowan46]

There's a few that come to mind depending on budget and portability top of the range in terms of portability accuracy and price is probably this one.

http://www.firstligh...-tt320x-ag.html

this one can take a small scope it is reputedly more accurate but less portable

http://www.365astron...d02f91b7ae3bc87

and this one not as transportable but not bad

http://www.altairast...&cat=279&page=1

also this

http://www.firstligh...view-mount.html

I am not sure the vixen polarie will take the weight of a scope so didn't include include it

[RikM]

I use an EQ3-2 with the dual axis motor drives as my travel mount.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-eq3-2-deluxe.html

[E621Keith]

There is also this TS photoguider upgrade for Vixen GP and EQ5. It replaces the DEC axis and counter weight thus reducing the weight.

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p3737_TS-Photoguider-Upgrade---turns-your-EQ5-mount-or-similar-into-a-Astrophoto-Travel-.html

[rowan46]

That looks rather interesting Keith. have you used one?

[E621Keith]

That looks rather interesting Keith. have you used one?

I used one with my GP2. Here is a picture of it during Venus Transit. The whole set up (heads and scopes (exc. tripod)) packs inside a Peli storm im2500 case (like 1510).

http://stargazerslou...p/page__st__320

[marcosscriven]

There's a few that come to mind depending on budget and portability top of the range in terms of portability accuracy and price is probably this one.

http://www.firstligh...-tt320x-ag.html

Thanks for all the options

Wow - that first one is astonishingly expensive. Amazing to think you could get literally three Kindle Fire tablets for that.

Having said that, it does look ideal - I guess the cost of these things is more about the niche size of the market than anything, and in the context of the cost of the scope, tripod, head, it's similar I suppose.

It mentions in the description it can be used with an auto glider - I wonder if that would make it (if I needed in future) suitable for narrow field AP too.

[rowan46]

]The astrotrac if properly polar aligned doesn't need guiding, It works best as a wide field camera platform but I believe it will take a small scope and camera.