German SkyWatcher EQ8-R PRO German Equatorial Mount SkyWatcher EQ8-R PRO

SkyWatcher EQ8-R PRO German Equatorial Mount

The new SKYWATCHER EQ8-R PRO mount is a mount designed to work with a tripod or on a column. It is supplied with the SYNSCAN control knob, two weights of 10Kg each, and all with a load capacity of 50 Kg!!!!

NEW FEATURES INTRODUCED IN RELATION TO THE PREVIOUS VERSION:

• Load capacity: 50 Kg.
• Lower and smoother periodic error.
• Self-balancing design on both axles.
• Improved clutch system providing greater robustness.
• Drive system with pulleys and toothed belts for better precision and quieter operation.
• Mechanically improved dovetail clamping head for ease of use and better grip.
• Motor controller with high-performance chips and USB connections.
• Newly designed cable management system to reduce the risk of tangled cables.
• 4 powered USB 3.0 ports.
• 8-6-4 pin I/O ports.
• 3 auxiliary power sockets

Like the also new EQ6AZ SYNSCAN, the SKYWATCHER EQ8-R PRO comes standard with SKYWATCHER's patented Freedom Find (dual-encoder) technology that allows the user to manually move the two axes of the mount as many times as desired without affecting the alignment of the mount!!!

In Telescopiomania we highlight the main features of the new EQ8-R PRO:

• High load capacity of 50Kg.
• Very smooth Periodic Error Curve.
• Incorporation of Freedom^Find™technology
• Permanent Periodic Error Correction.
• Quiet running.
• Minimal presence of backlash (gear backlash)
• AutomaticHOMEfunction (idle position).
• Communication interface with DSLR cameras.
• Precise Polar alignment with SYNSCANcontrol knob .

Tracking made easy -- Freedom Find™

With patented FREEDOM FIND (dual-encoder) technology, the telescope can be moved either manually or electronically on both axes without losing position or alignment information. After moving to a new object, the telescope will automatically start tracking the new object precisely. There will be no need to re-align the telescope during the entire observing session. This technological feature is very positively valued by Telescopiomania as it incorporates a functionality that until now was only available to users with professional mounts.

The EQ8-R PRO mount is equipped with auxiliary encoders on the AR and DEC axes. Therefore, the mount is able to continue to be aware of its current position even if the user disengages the axes and starts rotating them by hand. In this way, the user can manually operate the mount at any time without having to worry about losing alignment of the mount. When the user wants to operate the mount again via the SYNSCAN control knob, he/she does not have to realign the telescope but simply re-engage the mount and that's it. However, this function can be enabled or disabled as an option on the SYNSCAN control knob.

Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC)

The SKYWATCHER EQ8-R PRO mount is equipped with a mark or index on its AR crown. This allows the motor controller to know the exact position of the crown at any time. After performing a correct PEC (Periodic Error Correction) calibration routine, which is stored in the motor controller permanently, the user can initiate the PEC correction at any time and thus improve the guiding performance for astrophotography with short focal length equipment. The calibration process will not need to be performed in the following sessions (assuming that the Polar alignment is always very accurate), so we can speak of Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC). The user can perform the calibration with manual guidance or with self-guidance. For further details, it is recommended to read the SYNSCAN control unit instruction manual.

Programmable Exposure Time Control

The SKYWATCHER EQ8-R PRO mount is equipped with a SNAPport that can control the camera shutter. Working with the CAMERA CONTROL function of the SYNSCAN control knob , the user can program the time of exposures when doing astrophotography . Up to 8 groups of different combinations of "Number of frames &exposure-times" can be found on the SYNSCAN control k nob.For more detailed information, it is recommended to read the instruction manual of the SYNSCAN control.

Auto-Home function

The EQ8-R PRO mount is also equipped with two HOMEposition sensors . Working with theSYNSCAN control , the mount can be placed in the same HOME position after the power is turned on. For more detailed information, it is recommended to read the instruction manual of the SYNSCAN control unit .

Technical Specifications:

Mount Type: German Equatorial
Load Capacity: 50Kg
Latitude Adjustment Range: 10º to 65º
Azimuth Adjustment Range: +-10ºAzimuth Adjustment Range: +-10º AzimuthAdjustment Range: +-10º AzimuthAdjustment Range: +-10º AzimuthAdjustment Range: +-10º AzimuthAdjustment Range: +-10º
Weight (without tripod): 25Kg
Counterweights: 2x 10Kg
Counterweight bar : 2,6Kg
Power supply: DC11 16V 4A
Motors: Hybrid stepper 0.9º stepper motors
Transmission: 435:1 Crown + 64 micro-steps/0,9º Stepper motor
Gear ratio: 435
Resolution: 11136000 counts/Revolution, approx. 0.12 arc sec
Maximum drop speed: 3.3º/second
Tracking speed: Sidereal, Solar, Lunar
Tracking mode: Equatorial mode
Auto-tracking speeds: 0.125x, 0.25x, 0.5x, 0.75x, 1x
Periodic Error Correction (PEC): 100 segments, Permanent PEC Correction.
Control Command: SYNSCAN
Database: More than 42,000 objects.
Celestial Object Catalogs: Messier, NGC, IC, SAO, Caldwell, Double Stars, Variable Stars, Popular Stars and Planets.
Pointing accuracy: up to 5 arcminutes (RMS)
Resolution of auxiliary Encoders in AR/DEC: 17624 counts/revolution approx. 1.2 arcminutes.

German Equatorial Mount SkyWatcher EQ8-R PRO