Equatorial Mount

The Equatorial mount is available in many different designs. This type of telescope mount has one axis aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the Earth by pointing it at the North or South celestial pole.

The equatorial telescope mount shown here is the very sturdy EQ5 mount from Skywatcher which provides excellent precision and stability and a host of other useful features for the serious astronomer.

To compensate for the Earth's rotation, the mount and telescope are moved in this axis, almost always with a motor that turns the mount at the same rate as the Earth's rotation. This axis is known as the polar axis.

The other axis on an equatorial telescope mount is called the declination axis. This axis allows for movement of the scope at right angles to the polar axis. Movements in these two axes together permits targeting the telescope at any part of the sky.

Mounts will have controls for both coventional up-down and left-right motion, and generally these two adjustments will be used for large directional changes and terrestrial observation. Other controls will allow for polar alignment and altitude adjustment.

As soon as an object is located, both axes are locked down, and just the polar axis turns to track the object.

The exact operation will vary depending on the type and model of the mount you are using.

If you intend to do any long-exposure astrophotography then you will require a high quality mount that has gears and motors in both axes, and altitude and azimuth adjustments for precise polar alignment.

German Equatorial Mount

The EQ5 shown above is a German Equatorial Mount that provides the precision and stability needed for serious observing. With single or double axis motor drive attached, it becomes the perfect instrument for for deep skyobservation and photography.

Standard features of the EQ5 include a built-in holder for polar scope, a latitude adjuster with micrometer scale, an azimuth polar-alignment adjuster, aluminum setting circles, large manual slow-motion tracking controls, and a bubble level.

The easiest and quickest way to find objects in the night sky is to learn the Constellations using the finderscope, but if the object is too faint you may want to use the setting circles on an equatorial mount.

AstroTrac TT320X-AG
Using the AstroTrac TT320X-AG equatorial mount it's possible to take longer exposures at longer focal lengths making it possible to capture excellent images of a vast number of objects more rapidly and easily than in the past

Losmandy Titan
The main advantage of an equatorial mount lies in its ability to allow the instrument attached to it to stay fixed on any object in the sky.

Paramount ME Robotic Mount
It's no coincidence that Paramount ME has quickly become the mount of choice for the world's top amateur imagers.

SkyWatcher EQ1
It's ideal for smaller and lighter astronomical telescopes, and its two slow-motion cables allow precise tracking of celestial objects.

SkyWatcher EQ2
The convenient dual setting circles allow observers to locate the objects by setting the R.A. and Dec. coordinates.

SkyWatcher EQ3
This model can be fitted with both single and double axis motor drive for auto-tracking.

SkyWatcher EQ5
The EQ5 telescope mount provides the precision and stability that is required for serious observing.

SkyWatcher EQ6 (NEQ6)
Even an inexperienced astronomer can master its variety of features in a few observing sessions.

SkyWatcher EQ6 Syntrek
EQ6 SynTrek equatorial mounts can be upgraded to computerized SynScan system by simply changing the hand control to SynScan hand control.

SkyWatcher HEQ5 Syntrek
HEQ5 and EQ6 SynTrek mounts can be upgraded to computerized SynScan system by simply changing the hand control to SynScan hand control.

Vixen Atlux Mount
The mount is designed and manufactured to offer the best slewing and tracking performance in an easily transportable package.

Vixen AXD Mount
Controlled by Vixen's Star Book Ten controller for manual or computer controlled observation or astrophotography

Vixen Gaiax Mount
Designed with high precision zinc bronze 216 teeth worm gears, this mount can carry large aperture telescopes

Vixen Sphinx SXW
Beginners and seasoned hobbyists will benefit from the portability of the mount

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