innovative new equatorial mount

[casstony]

http://www.eclipsetelescopes.com/asterra_apo_series.htm
I've read about a few quality control problems with the Sphinx, but I wonder what QC depths this mount will plumb.

[ving]

looks the part :shrug:
:)

[ballaratdragons]

Hmmmm, plenty of info on the OTA's, but nothing about the mount apart from that it is 'Optional'. :shrug:

[casstony]

I e-mailed Eclipse asking where it can be purchased and how much. I'll post info if I get any.

[ballaratdragons]

:thumbsup: Thanks Tony, more options for us Astro folks can only be good.

[netwolf]

oh boy another mount to consider...

[Gargoyle_Steve]

http://www.eclipsetelescopes.com/asterra_apo_em11s.jpg

http://www.galileo.cc/images/rep_boutique/grandes/Vixen/SXW-E_Mount.jpg

So is it a rebadged Sphinx, or a Sphinx clone?

[casstony]

I'd say sphinx clone. I like the short moment arms designed into the sphinx but the price is too high for me. I'm sure vixen would sell much higher volumes if they could drop the price by about one third.

[ballaratdragons]

Hmmm, only a few very slight differences, but it's definately a clone.

[casstony]

Response from Christian Lafleur of Eclipse Telescopes:"The mount is still in production and not yet available. But for now, we can supply eq5 with large stainless tripod and gotostar for 999$usd. Otherwise, we can contact you when em11-s become available."

[Stephan]

This mount looks really like a copy of the Vixen Sphinx mount, probably made in China. Will be interesting to see what Vixen will do about that. As far as I know they patented the mount this time with a world wide patent. That means if Vixen wanted they could get curt order to make those copy mount illegal. All though they have to do that in each country separately and that cost some money. On the other hand I can not believe that they just sit and watch to see their business going under.

Hopefully the will sell at least the controllers as accessory for the sphinx mounts.... I guess they would sell quite a few of those.

[casstony]

Maybe vixen won't notice Australia and won't get the court order for our small market.

I think the controller is the same as astro-optical's new controller http://www.astro-optical.com.au/newproducts.html

[Stephan]

You could be right, Australia is really a small market and Vixen might not be worried about that.

The controller looks really like the one on the EM-11s mount.

[netwolf]

Tony do you have a price on that GotoStar system?
Why dont Astro Optical Supplies show prices on there website, I really dont like that price range they use either. I mean when your shopping around you just want a price not a 500-1000, 1000-2000.

Regards

[casstony]

I tend not to consider purchasing from astro-optical because they don't show their price. I don't have the price on the Gotostar. I find the price band thing annoying too.

[digby dart]

I found the Eclipse price of US$699 a little steep for the Gotostar.


It is made in China by Nanjind Idea Science & Technology Co. Ltd. The fact that they also produce their own and seemingly included servo motors is interesting.


The system claims compatibility with the EQ5, LXD55, LXD75 and CG5 among others. Further they use a soft start system for their motors. I found their web page…
http://www.nj-idea.com/INDEX2.htm


The system seems to include being able to use an RS232 serial port for slew and guide when controlled by a PC. There is also an optional GPS module.


The controller will synchronize to any sky object and can link to compatible electric focusers.


They give download access to their documentation and firmware. I imagine they will have other vendors selling their bolt on controller within a short time.


I hope this is of some interest to someone.

[netwolf]

Digby I am sure I have seen it for US $400.

[digby dart]

Fahim US$400 is a little more palatable. Astro Optical want A$850 which in my view is very ambitious.

I notice Lee Andrews was selling Skywatcher GoTo EQ6’s for around $1300 a few weeks back and has also reduced his other Skywatcher lines. Maybe he has something new in the offing.

Steve from My Astro Shop was testing a new goto system end of last year.

I’ll play a watching brief for now.

[netwolf]

Digby, Yes I phoned AOS today and was advised the special starting price was ~ $845. A bit ambitious in my opinion, but unusable for me as I was more interested in weather it would operate as a Alt/Az goto. I was told it is only a Equatorial Goto system. I think I will save my penny's for the Argonavis/Sidrealtechnolgy servo combination, this combo will do both Alt/Az and Equatorial. In my opinion nothing beats this combination, it is the best in the world. Followed closely by Argonavis/Servocat, an Alt/Az only solution.

Regards