A fast, simple and reliable system for keeping your scope pointed at the Sun.
...the SolarQuest mount does its job superbly and is really easy to use. BBC Sky at Night Magazine, August 2018 Read full review
About this product
Model: sw_solarquest_mnt
Part Number: 20320
Sky-Watcher SolarQuest Solar tracking / GoTo mount - Available now!
Remarkably easy to use!
Simply level the tripod (near enough is good enough) and point your solar telescope anywhere to the left of the sun, Sky-Watcher's HelioFind™ Solar Alignment Technology will do the rest!
Built-in GPS automatically enters date, time and location then calculates the altitude and azimuth of the sun. The mount then points the telescope to the correct altitude and slews clockwise, hunting for the sun. When the Solar Sensor (photo diodes) detect the sun the mount lock onto it then silently tracks it, keeping it within the eyepiece's field of view.
Can be used by educational establishments, beginners and experienced observers alike.
Lightweight, portable and quiet in operation.
Payload capacity up to 4kg.
Accepts telescopes with standard 45mm (Vixen-type) Dovetail Bars.
The saddle can be removed, offset 90 degrees then refitted making it suitable for use with Skywatcher's L-Bracket (available separately).
IMPORTANT: The SolarQuest™ mount is designed for use with solar telescopes only. Do not point any other type of optical device at the Sun. Looking directly at the Sun without verified-safe, professionally made solar filtering will cause immediate and irreversible damage to your eye (blindness!), damage to the telescope, and will be a fire risk.
FEATURES
- HelioFind™ Solar Alignment Technology: Solar Sensor with 4 x Photodiodes & built-in GPS data fixing to obtain time & location to calculate the sun's azimuth and alltitude
- Telescope Auto-levelling feature with the help of the built-in tilt sensor (3 x axis accelerometer in the sensor block).
- Auto drift correction through feedback from Solar Sensor
- Auto Pointing Offset Correcting Feature
- 8-Way Sliding Switch for Centring Sun in Field of View
- Tracking Rates: Alignment-Free Solar Tracking
- Pointing Accuracy: Up to 3 arc-minute (after customer calibration)
- Resolution: 2073600 Counts/Rev., 0.625 arc-second
- Slewing Speeds: 16x & 1200x
- Tracking Mode: Dual Axis Tracking
- Motor: DC Servo Motor, Gear Ratio 6480
- Payload Capacity: 4kg
- 45mm Sky-Watcher/Vixen type dovetail saddle
- 3/8" Screw Fittings (tripod/mount)
- Adjustable Aluminium Tripod with Accessory Tray
- Bubble Level
- Height of optional Tripod/Mount: 80.5cm - 152cm
- Mount Head Weight: 1.3kg
- Total Weight with optional Tripod: 4.05kg
- Low Power Consumption
- Power Requirement: 8 AA Size Batteries (not supplied) or External Power Supply DC 12V, Tip Positive (via adaptor panel).
Product Videos
IMPORTANT: The videos below show the SolarQuest mount being used with a Sky-Watcher 70mm dedicated white light solar telescope. Never view the Sun without a suitable Solar Filter! Solar observing is dangerous and can be hazardous to eyesight.
Customer reviews
| Average Rating (3 Reviews): | |
Tuesday, 5 November 2019 | Trevor
For the last few years my Coronado PST has been used on an ordinary camera tripod and although it benefits from a quick setup time with the forth coming transit of Mercury it was time for an upgrade.
This is an impressive piece of kit. The Coronado has its own solar finder and the Solar quest put the sun right in the middle first time out. The tracking is very good and using a ZWOASI220 mono was able to take a picture of a solar prominence. Only takes a little longer to setup over the camera tripod but is miles better. If you do any kind of solar observing I would highly recommend
Tuesday, 15 October 2019 | Rodger
Excellent service as usual from FLO
Does exactly as it says and within 1 minute successfully tracking the sun - Amazing especially as I only had 180 deg field of view and take any location and time calculations away
Also very light so I no longer need to up my flight baggage allowance so will save the cost in just two or three flights -also extremely sturdy even with a solarmax ii double stacked on it at 3.8Kg
Two wishes
Allow users to balance the scope on the mount
Make a German equatorial version
But I knew those limitations before purchase
Does precisely what it’s supposed to Friday, 14 September 2018 | Steven
This is an Excellent dedicated solar mount. I mounted a Borg 71FL with a chromacore and a 24mm Pan on it. It placed the sun in the admittedly narrow field of view after the requisite time was allowed for it to acquire GPS data. I needed to minimally adjust the position of the image with the rocker switch. Thereafter, the image remained centered exactly for a test run of six hours. I was a trifle concerned that the tripod would be a bit flimsy, but it proved quite stable and there was only a minimal amount of shake after focusing. It gets my highest recommendation for someone wanting a dedicated solar mount who can live with the payload limitations.
FAQ
Please fill in the form below to ask a question or request a price match.
Q1. Can this be used with an L-Bracket?
Yes - the dovetail saddle can be removed, offset 90 degrees and refitted to enable use with an L-Bracket.
Q2. Can I use an L-Bracket with the SolarQuest mount?
Yes but you need to rotate the saddle 90º. To do this, first remove the white cover circle from the side of the saddle to reveal 4x screws.
Remove the screws and rotate the saddle 90º.
Replace the screws.
You will likely find that the cover plate is no longer usable - it's almost impossible to remove it cleanly. Either do you best to re-attach it or leave it off - it is only there for aesthetics and won't affect the functionality of your mount.
Q3. Can I use a different power supply rather than the AA batteries?
Yes - the mount is supplied with a battery cover plate which goes in place instead of the battery holder and allows you to use a 12v DC center positive power supply. We recommend a Lynx Astro 12v DC mains power supply or a Celestron Lithium Powertank.
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