Orion Mounts

Here you will find two portable mounts for astronomical observing and photography.
You will also find a number of selected accessories for these and other mounts.

Easy Payment: We offer our customers several easy and fast payment methods. You will receive exact payment details when ordering or on request!

Sky Pro
Portable Equatorial Mount - Load Capacity approx. 10kgs
Atlas
Heavy Equatorial Mount - Load Capacity approx. 18kgs

Paragon Plus Binocular Mount
For astronomical observing with binoculars
Half Pillars (separate page)
For Atlas, Sky Pro and many other mounts
Anti Vibration Pads (separate page)
These pads reduce vibrations of a mount considerably


Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com



Sky Pro
sold



Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com



Accessories and Upgrades for the Orion Sky - Pro

There are many available accessories and upgrade for the Sky Pro. You can make your mount fit for most applications of practical astronomy.

Polar Alignment Scope for Sky Pro

The polar alignment scope is not just inserted into the mount and then fixed in position with a rubber O-ring and three tiny thumbscrews. Instead it is properly screwed into the mount. That way there is no risk of misaligning the polar scope by accident.

The plastic cover of the Sky Pro fits over the Polar Alignment Scope.

For polar alignment you do not need to use the cumbersome method using scales and setting circles. Instead you just match the orientation of the constellations of Ursa Maior (the "Big Dipper") and Cassiopeia inside the polar scope with the orientation of the constellations on the real sky. Polar alignment thus takes only a few moments with equal precision.
 
Item No. Short description Price - Euros incl. VAT
Pol SkyPro Screw-in polar alignment scope for Orion Sky Pro. Also works with EQ-6, Atlas, GP, ... if you need a replacement for your existing mount. 71.-


Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com


Single Axis and Dual Axis Motor Drives

These motor drives offer an excellent value for money and a good tracking precision. You can use it for visual applications and photography with instruments up to 500mm (guided). Of course planetary and lunar imaging and photography of any other objects that require only short exposure times is no problem at all.
 

Item No. Short description Price - Euros incl. VAT
MD Sky Pro single axis (RA) motor drive for Sky Pro. Including motor, hand paddle, gears and battery pack (no batteries included) 63.-
DMD Sky Pro dual axis motor drive for Sky Pro. Including motors, hand paddle, gears and battery pack (no batteries included) 111.-


Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com


Counterweights

For heavy telescopes or when using heavy accessories (camera, guide scope, ...) you will need additional counterweights. You can choose any counterweight from the BW EQ5 line. ........... Further Information (German)


Anti Vibration Pads

Orion Anti Vibration Pads are made of a special visco-elastic material that damps out vibrations quickly. Vibrations are one of the most common problems of many telescopes - whenever you touch the focuser of the telescope, or whenever there is a bit of wind, the image will start shaking and takes some time to stand still again.

The Orion RockStable Anti Vibration Pads reduce the time until vibrations have died down significantly!
................................... Further Information


Half Pillar for Sky Pro

Long telescope tubes have the tendency to collide with the tripod of a mount. Owners of refractors, long Newtonians, Maksutov-Newtonians etc. certainly know this problem.

The Orion half pillars were made to correct this problem. But the half pillars have other advantages as well:

- the risk of the tube colliding with the tripod is reduced to a neglectible minimum
- you need not extend the tripod as much, resulting in a better overall stability
- you get a higher operation height compared with the tripod without a half pillar. Viewing position of long refractors will be raised to a more comfortable height
- you can also use the Half Pillars as adaptation between the mount and a pedestal ...... Further Information



Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com


Atlas & Atlas GoTo

A massive mount for large telescopes - Newtonians up to 300mm aperture, large Schmidt-Cassegrains, ...
There are several versions of this mount: Standard version for visual applications, professional version for astro-imaging, GoTo version.

Atlas Vis - Standard version with normal dual axis controller - suitable for visual use and short exposure astro-imaging
The dovetail plate shown is optional.

The Atlas is a heavy duty but still reasonably portable mount for both stationary and advanced portable use. It carries telescopes up to approx. 18kgs weight (depending on the lever arm).

The mount has a sensational value for money which makes it one of the most popular advanced mounts we know.

Features of the Atlas:
- massive adjustable height stainless steel tripod
- dual axis motor drive integrated into the mount (different versions available)
- polar alignment scope. Very easy to use through the Cassiopeia - UMa system. Setting circles are not needed for the operation of the polar scope.
- large locking handles for both axes
- large setting circles for conventionally locating objects

We also offer many helpful accessories for this mount. Please see here for details!
Specifications:
 
Tripod Weight approx. 7.5kgs
Tripod Height 85 - 147cm
Added Height (EQ head) 41cm maximum
Mount Weight (EQ head) 16kgs
Counterweight Shaft 18mm diameter, retractable
Scope of Delivery - equatorial head
- tripod
- 2 counterweights
- polar alignment scope
- controller (depending on version of the mount)

Available Variants
Low cost, sturdy mount for visual use and basic astrophotography
Mount with many additional features for advanced astrophotography
Like Atlas Foto, but with GoTo capability
Original Atlas GoTo mount with very large object database



Atlas vis shown with optional dovetail plate
Atlas Visual

The standard Atlas offers an excellent value for money for mainly visual use. It has a dual axis motor drive, making it ideal for high magnification viewing, but also for some astro-imaging. The mount can later be upgraded with an improved motor drive for advanced imaging or even with GoTo capability.

Visually we recommend this mount up to telescopes like a 300mm lightweight Newtonian or an 11" Schmidt-Cassegrain.

Photographically the mount can also be used, but we recommend to stick with focal lengths of max. 500mm.

The mount works on both Earth hemispheres.

The direction buttons for the motors can be reversed.

Useful Accessories for this mount.

General Accessories for mounts.

Item No Short description Price - Euro incl. VAT
Atlas vis Atlas mount standard version with Syntrek dual axis motor drive.
incl. 2 counterweights and polar scope

This mount usually has a quite long delivery time!
1198.-
Upgrade Kit Atlas Foto Upgrade kit consisting of motors, cables, front plate and SDI controller.
Improved photographical capabilities.
748.-

Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com


Atlas Foto

Mechanically the Atlas offers a great stability for demanding astro-imaging. However the motor drive of the standard version is a bit too simple for advanced use.

For this reason we have created the Foto version of the Atlas together with Boxdoerfer. We use the solid mechanics of the Atlas coupled with better motors (capable of speeds up to 5° per second) and the sophisticated Powerflex MTS-3SDI controller.

The motors are the same used also in the Atlas Foto GoTo which makes a later upgrade easy.


MTS-3SDI controller
Instead of the original motor drive we use the photographical motor drive Powerflex MTS-3SDI. The drive offers several advanced features for astro-imaging:

- Periodic Error Correction - the resulting tracking error is usually below +/- 10"
- Correction of the play in the Declination gears
- supplies Autoguider control
- customizable correction speeds
- Micro step control - even better tracking precision
- supplies Online software updates
- can be upgraded to GoTo capabilities

GoTo Upgrade
The motors are capable of speeds up to about 5° per second. This is the ideal basis for a later upgrade to full Goto capability. You only need to buy the display for the controller and the keycode for the GoTo database.

Useful Accessories for this mount.

General Accessories for mounts.

Version Foto GoTo

Item No Short description Price - Euro incl. VAT
Atlas Foto Atlas Foto version - like Atlas vis, but with SDI controller, improved motors and new front plate 1528.-
Upgrade Kit Foto Goto Upgrade kit consisting of the display for the SDI and a keycode for the 2,000 object database of the SDI.
Price only valid for controllers bought through us.
288.-

Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com


Atlas Foto GoTo

The Atlas Foto GoTo is identical to the Atlas Foto, but has several additional features for standalone GoTo operation:

- display attached to the SDI controller
- 2,000+ object database. All other objects can be slewed-to after entering the coordinates
- GoTo operation independent from a separate computer

In addition you can of course enjoy the advanced photographical features of the regular Atlas Foto:

- Periodic Error Correction - the resulting tracking error is usually below +/- 10"
- Correction of the play in the Declination gears
- supplies Autoguider control
- customizable correction speeds
- Micro step control - even better tracking precision
- supplies Online software updates
- can be upgraded to GoTo capabilities

Further Information on the MTS-3SDI GoTo controller


GoTo motors
The integrated GoTo motors can be used with speeds up to about 5° per second. For maximum GoTo precision needed for dark objects that are otherwise hard to find you can slew to a star in the vicinity of the object, update the GoTo alignment, and then slew to the object with highest possible precision.

Useful Accessories for this mount.

General Accessories for mounts.

Item No Short description Price - Euro incl. VAT
Atlas Foto GoTo Atlas Foto Goto - like Atlas Foto, but with display and 2,000 object database for standalone GoTo operation 1798.-

Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com


Atlas Skyscan Goto - Version 3

The Atlas is available directly from the factory with an integrated GoTo drive system. The general capabilities are similar to that of the normal Atlas (visual version). The mount offers great stability even for large telescopes and is very convenient and easy to use for visual operation. Photographically we rather recommend the Atlas Foto Goto which has improved features for that application.

The Atlas GoTo comes with the latest Skyscan Version 3 hand controllers - internet upgradable and with several bug fixes compared with the previous V2.x controllers.

Specifications:
- over 13,436 objects in the database incl. 25 user defined objects
- GoTo speed up to 3.5° per second
- fine correcting speeds for photography: 0.25x, 0.5x, 0.75x and 1x.
- tracking speeds: sideral, lunar, solar
- 1 star, 2 star and 3 star alignment possible.
- power supply 11-15V, min 2 Amps
- RS232 port for computer connection - cable included
- autoguider port
- English menu

It is possible to upgrade a standard EQ6 or Atlas with the Skyscan V3 GoTo kit. The kit consists of all needed parts for refitting the existing mounts.

Important: Older mounts require new motors, newer mounts do not require new motors. Please check which motors you have in your mount before ordering!

Useful Accessories for this mount.

General Accessories for mounts.

Item No Short description Price - Euro incl. VAT
Or Atlas GoTo Atlas SkyScan GoTo Version 3 - complete mount with accessories like Atlas vis, but with Skyscan Goto drive system 1598.-
Skyscan Nachruestset Skyscan V3 upgrade kit for existing EQ6 or Atlas mounts 578.-

Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com

Pillar / Pedestal Adaptor for Atlas

The Atlas is a popular choice for stationary use in observatories due to its excellent value for money and stability. We offer an adaptor with which you can adapt the mount to your pillar / pedestal more easily.

Attaching the Mount to the Adaptor:

The mount is fixed by a single M12 bolt from underneath. The bolt is countered by a roller bearing. The mount can be precisely polar aligned without having to loosen the bolt.
 
Dimensions for Adaptation:

Pillar inside diameter 94mm
Adaptation to pillar 3x M6 threads at 120 degree angles
Distance from upper rim of the pillar
to the threads
10 Millimeters
Diameter of Adaptor 140mm
Usable flat diameter up to 130mm
Item No. Short description Price - Euros incl. VAT
EQ-6
Saulenadapter
Adaptor for attaching the Atlas to a pillar / pedestal. Incl. azimuth fine adjustment 118.-

Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com

Other Useful Accessories And Upgrades With Links To The Product Presentation


Anti Vibration Pads

Orion Anti Vibration Pads are made of a special visco-elastic material that damps out vibrations quickly. Vibrations are one of the most common problems of many telescopes - whenever you touch the focuser of the telescope, or whenever there is a bit of wind, the image will start shaking and takes some time to stand still again.

The Orion RockStable Anti Vibration Pads reduce the time until vibrations have died down significantly!
................................... Further Information


Half Pillar for Atlas

Long telescope tubes have the tendency to collide with the tripod of a mount. Owners of refractors, long Newtonians, Maksutov-Newtonians etc. certainly know this problem.

The Orion half pillars were made to correct this problem. But the half pillars have other advantages as well:

- the risk of the tube colliding with the tripod is reduced to a neglectible minimum
- you need not extend the tripod as much, resulting in a better overall stability
- you get a higher operation height compared with the tripod without a half pillar. Viewing position of long refractors will be raised to a more comfortable height
- you can also use the Half Pillars as adaptation between the mount and a pedestal ...... Further Information



Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com



Binomount - Parallelogram Style Mount for Comfortable Binocular Viewing



Binomount with tripod. The depicted pair of binoculars is not included in the scope of delivery.

Gerade größere Ferngläser versprechen viel Beobachtungsspaß. Der endet aber schnell, wenn man mit etwas höheren Vergrößerungen und auch Gewichten ab 900 Gramm arbeitet. Das Zittern wird verstärkt und verhindert somit das Erkennen feiner Details.

Einfache Fotostative bringen da schon etwas aber feinfühlige Schwenks sind nicht so einfach. Vor allem wenn das Fernglas höherliegende Objekte anvisieren soll, wie ein Flugzeug, einen Berggipfel oder ein Objekt des nächtlichen Sternhimmels, wird es mit einem Fotostativ problematisch. Nicht so mit der TS Binomount!

Feinfühlige Schwenks - bis senkrecht nach oben
Das Fernglas wird mit dem integrierten Adapter direkt auf der Parallelogrammmontierung befestigt. Mit dem Gegengewicht wird er Gewichtsausgleich hergestellt. Die Verstellung erfolgt über eine Rutschkupplung. Sie nehmen das Fernglas, schwenken es in die gewünschte Position, lassen los und beobachten! So einfach ist das.

Welche Ferngläser können verwendet werden
Alle Ferngläser bis ca. 4,5kg werden von der TS Binomount getragen. Mit dabei ist die Adaption für Ferngläser mit dem Anschlußgewinde in der Zentralachse oder auch die Adaption für Ferngläser mit integriertem Stativadapter an der Mittelstrebe (bitte Fernglastype angeben). Die Binomount kann nahezu allen Ferngläsern aus unserem Angebot kombiniert werden, bis zum TS Glas mit 100mm Öffnung.


Beobachten mit der TS Binomount
Die beiden nebenstehenden Bilder zeigen gut das angenehme Arbeiten mit der Binomount. Man steht entspannt vor dem Binokular und ist voll konzentriert auf die Beobachtung. Man sieht viel mehr Details als mit der freien Hand - es ist ein Genuß!

Binnen Sekunden kann von der Horizontbeobachtung zur Himmels- beobachtung gewechselt werden. Egal ob ein Flugzeug, ein Vogel oder gar ein Gasnebel unserer Milchstraße das Ziel ist. Bis zum Zenit kann das Glas problemlos geschwenkt werden und wenn man es loslässt, bleibt es an der gewünschten Position stehen.


Prices
.
Item No. Short description Price - Euros incl. VAT
TS Binomount Parallelogram style mount for binoculars
without tripod
with adaptation for standard camera tripods
264.-
TS Binomount Stativ Parallelogram style mount for binoculars
with adjustable height metal tripod - max height approx. 170cm
390.-


Please send requests or online orders to: sales@telescope-service.com


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