Vixen Optics Advanced Polaris-M Mount with Tripod (Item #39973TL130)

Description
Customer Reviews

2016 Astronomy Magazine STAR Product!

Vixen's Advanced Polaris-M Motorized EQ Mount is an upgrade from the basic AP mount with the addition of a Right Ascension motor module and the Star Book One hand controller. The micro-stepper motor's full-circle brass wheel gear allows the mount to track over extremely long periods with little error for long-exposure astrophotography or prolonged observation of a single celestial object. While this mount configuration does not have full Go-To capabilities, once you Polar align the mount and manually navigate to your subject, the Star Book One controller will track it across the right ascension all night. This version of the AP-M includes Vixen's TL130 adjustable-height tripod.

Use the included Star Book One hand controller to move the scope for navigating and to track celestial objects. Since near and deep sky objects appear to move at different speeds, the controller features celestial, solar, lunar, and King's rate tracking speeds, in addition to slew speeds from 0.05x to 1000x. An integrated autoguider port adds to the mount's usability.

Mount

Motorized German equatorial
Payload capacity: 13.2 pounds, excluding counterweights
Altitude:
- 0-65° adjustment
- Tangent screw with handle
- 1.9°/rotation
- 59mm diameter, aluminum alloy axis shaft with friction stop
Azimuth:
- ±6.5° fine adjustment
- Twin adjustment screws with knobs
- 1.4°/rotation
- 59mm diameter, aluminum alloy axis shaft with friction stop
7 stainless steel ball bearings
8" long, 20mm diameter counterweight shaft
2.2 lb(1kg) counterweight
Vixen-style dovetail saddle
Runs on four user-supplied AA batteries

Gears and Motors

Micro stepping (pulse) motor
Right ascension:
- 144-tooth full circle wheel gear, 73.5mm diameter
- 11mm brass worm gear
Declination:
- 144-tooth full circle wheel gear, 58.4mm diameter
- 9.8mm brass worm gear
Integrated bubble level
Clutchless friction-stop

Star Book One

2-line 8-chracter backlit display
Red backlit keypad
Independent screen and keypad dimming control
Integrated red LED light
- Won't affect night-adjusted vision
- Use to read or perform tasks
- Adjustable brightness
ST-4 compatible integrated autoguider port
Multiple sidereal tracking speeds:
- Celestial
- Solar
- Lunar
- King's rate
Variable manual slewing speeds from 0.5x to 999x
Backlash compensation gives smoother rotation of the gears on the mount, especially when stopping or changing slew/tracking speeds
Periodic error correction (PEC) removes inaccuracies inherent in gears and allows for more accurate tracking, especially for long-exposure astrophotography
Selectable tracking for Northern or Southern hemisphere
Physical specification:
- Powered by mount through connector port
- Operating temperature: 32-104°F (0-40°C)
- Dimensions: 5.4 x 2.5 x 1" (13.7 x 6.5 x 2.1 cm)
- Weight: 4 oz (110g), excluding cable

Tripod

Three leg sections
Easy-to-use snap locks
Adjustable padded feet
Collapsed length: 24" (61cm)
Legs adjustable from 22.4-51" (56.9-129.5cm)
Total adjustable height from 20.7-45.6" (52.6-115.8cm)
Weight: 7 lb(3.2kg)

Vixen Optics 39973TL130 specs

Mount Type	German equatorial
Payload Capacity	13.2 lb / 6.0 kg
Motor	Stepping (pulse) motor
GO-TO Capability	No
Altitude / Latitude Adjustment	Altitude: 0 - 65° Latitude: ±6.5°
Polar Axis Scope	None
Includes Tripod/Pier	Adjustable-height tripod
Power Source	4 x AA batteries
Counterweights	1 x 2.2 lb / 1.0 kg
Dimensions	12.2 x 10.8 x 3.8" / 31.0 x 27.4 x 9.6 cm
Weight	8.5 lb / 3.9 kg, excluding counterweights

In the Box

Vixen Optics Advanced Polaris-M Motorized EQ Mount with SB One and Tripod

Star Book One Hand Controller

Star Book Cable

APP-TL130 Tripod

Counterweight Shaft

2.2 lb Counterweight

2 x Slow Motion Control Knob

Screwdriver

Allen Wrench Set

Limited Five-Year Warranty