Vixen Telescope Mounts

Image: Refractor 80/910mm on Porta Mount

This new alt-azimuth mount from Vixen offers one thing in particular: Ease of use and quick setup. You don't need to polar align your mount, balance any counterweights or even set the mount up horizontally - just put it down wherever you wish to observe and start doing what you came for to do: Observe!

Its compact dimensions make this mount an ideal choice for travelling.

Good Mount for Beginners
For beginners nothing is equally important as ease of use. As a result this mount is a hot recommendation for everyone new to astronomy. It is particularly recommended if you do not want to have to think about how to operate your mount. You will be able to use it easily from the first night on.

Flexible Use - Also Suited for Nature Observing
Aside from its astronomical use the Porta Mount is also excellently suited for terrestrial use. With its slow-motion controls you can easily track the movements of a flying bird, ...

Slow Motion Controls
You want to track stars at high magnifications? Or follow the movements of a ship or a flying bird? Either way you will love the slow-motion controls provided with the Porta Mount. Just turn the slow motion knobs on either axis for a smooth, precise movement.

Quick Release Device
Telescopes or other instruments are mounted by means of a quick release device. Attaching them to the mount thus takes only a few seconds, as does breaking down the setup. Likewise the quick release device allows you to balance the instrument more easily.

We also offer the PS Foto, a short dovetail plate with a 1/4" thread for attaching a camera or spotting scope. Please note that the camera's orientation is 90° rotated to the left.

Vixen Porta Mount with slow motion controls in both axes

Specifications
-- Weight ....................................................................... 5.5 kgs including tripod
-- you can move the instrument in any position, including the zenith
-- precise slow motion controls through worm gears
-- adjustable friction clutch in both axes - you do not have to clamp the axes
-- load capacity approx. 5kgs

Tripod of the Porta Mount
The mount comes with a sturdy aluminium tripod. The tripod is adjustable in height from approx. 90 - 130cm.

Feedback from a customer who uses the Vixen Porta mount with a Celestron 80mm ED refractor:

"Would you believe it I have had the C80ED up to 288X (5mm ocular+ Intes 2,4X Barlow) for several nights and this night I have not comletely split but sort of elongated Delta Cygnus at this mag. Amazing, stars are pinpoint and snapfocus even at this mag; it`s just fantastic!

Maybe even more extraordinary is that also the Vixen Porta takes this high mag.. Yes a few sec. of vibrations but it settles quickly and with the very nice slow-motion controlls I can follow the target even at 288X. As I wrote Amazing!" - Magnus from Sweden

Prices

Item No.	Short description	Price - Euros incl. VAT
Porta Montierung	Vixen Porta Mount with adjustable height aluminium tripod. With quick release device and dovetail plate for various telescopes. Load capacity approx. 5kgs Extra by TS: Dovetail plate for telescope connection included.	199.-
PS Foto Del	short dovetail plate with 1/4" camera thread	24.90

Link to lots of additional accessories for astronomical mounts

Vixen's introduction of the Skypod has made available an attractive new telescope and mount concept. Both the mount and the optional telescope offer several interesting features:

A particularly easy to use controller

This new and portable GoTo travel mount uses the modified Starbook S hand controller that offers the same practical user concept of the Sphinx controller. A display will show you a map of the sky so that you always know where you are.

The first telescope to be offered on this revolutionary new mount is the newly developed VMC110L Field Maksutov.

Telescope and mount form separate units. You can remove the telescope from the mount with a quick release saddle plate.

As a result the Skypod is even more portable. You can store the mount and the telescope separately. For airline travelling you can take the optional VMC110L (or another compact telescope) along as carry-on luggage while the mount goes with the rest of your luggage.

Everything forms one integrated whole, you cannot forget anything.

The controller is integrated into the mount. You can take it off for remote control, but you can always put it back for save storage and transport. This means that for transport you can avoid all the separate small parts that are otherwise easily lost.

Skypod-Mount

Newly developed and sturdy alt-azimuth GoTo mount
Electrical slow motion control in both axes
Integrated Starbook S controller, can be taken out for cable-remote control
Internal battery compartment (batteries not included) or 12V external power supply possible
Telescope connection by Vixen-format dovetail saddle plate
Dimensions approx. 26 x 21 x 19.9cm
Weight: 4.2kgs
Table tripod included in the standard scope of delivery. An adjustable height aluminium tripod is also available optionally instead of the tabletop tripod

Starbook S Controller

Monochromatic LCD-display with background illumination
Uniquely easy to use, navigation by displayed star chart
10Base-T-LAN-port for software updates and external software control
Autoguider port available
Dimensions approx. 8.5 x 13 x 3.8 cm
Weight 170g

PolGP.jpg (10810 Byte)

TS Polar alignment scope for GP-2

The polar alignment scope is screwed into the rear of the RA axis of the GP-2 mount. It allows for easy and quick polar alignment.

The polar scope is very easy to use: Two arrows show the position of a particular star in Ursa Maior and Cassiopeia. Just move the RA axis of the mount until the orientation of the constellations within the polar scope and on the real sky are identical. Then just move Polaris into its marking in the polar scope and you have aligned the telescope.

Item No.	Short description	Price - Euros incl. VAT
Pol-GP	TS polar alignment scope for GP-2. Also fits various other mounts, such as Celestron CG-5 and Synta EQ5.	71.-
Polbeleuchtung	Illuminating device for polar alignment scope - TS deluxe version made of machined aluminium	49.-

Vixen ED103mm on GP-D2. The GP-D2 as seen here is equipped with the HAL110 tripod.

The Vixen GP-D2 is Vixen's premium portable EQ mount for photographical use. It offers an ideal compromise between size, weight, and load bearing capacity. The mount is not larger than the GP from the outside, but can carry telescopes up to approx. 11kgs with very good stability.

The mount is of course very well suited for visual observers, but it is in particular meant for astrophotographers looking for a portable mount. The mount can be equipped with sophisticated dual axis motor drives and many other extras for all photographical and visual applications.

For photographical use the mount bears refractors up to 6" aperture, Schmidt-Cassegrains up to 9.25" or 8" Newtonians. Visually slightly larger telescopes will also be suitable.

	RA Axis	DEC Axis
Outside diameter	45 - 62 mm	35mm
Length	168mm	114.5mm
Material	Steel	Steel
Bearing	Friction bearing	Friction bearing
Worm wheel diameter / thickness	74mm / 6mm	74mm / 6mm
Worm gears material	Brass	Brass
Periodic Error	approx. +/- 10"
Worm gear axis diameter / outside diameter	6mm / 11mm	6mm / 11mm
Worm gear material	Brass	Brass
Setting circle resolution	10'	2°

The GP-D2 equatorial head weighs 8.5kgs. It carries telescopes up to approx. 11kgs (depending on the lever arm). Latitude can be adjusted from 0° to 90°.

Item No.	Short Description	Price - Euros incl. VAT
GP-D2	Vixen GP-D2 equatorial head with two counterweights, polar alignment scope, integrated polar scope illuminator. Without tripod.	830.-
GP-D2-SBS	Vixen GP-D2 equatorial head with two counterweights, polar alignment scope, integrated polar scope illuminator. Without tripod. Including Star Book S GoTo drive	1453.-

Link to lots of additional accessories for astronomical mounts

Star Book S GoTo Drive

Vixen offers a supremely user-friendly GoTo drive for their GP-type mounts. The GoTo drive is derived from the Star Book S controller previously used in the Skypod mounts.

A large LCD display shows you a star chart instead of just cryptic names and numbers. This helps with the orientation and makes the Star Book particularly well suited for beginners and occasional observers. .......... Link to further information

The Vixen Sphinx (here the standard version) is a new advanced mount which incorporates several new ideas and offers excellent mechanics and an excellent GoTo drive.

VMC200Sphinx.jpg (42756 Byte)
The Vixen VMC 200 on the standard Sphinx with HAL tripod.

The new Vixen SPHINX mount is the first mount in Vixen's range that was designed from the start as a GoTo mount - contrary to many mounts to which GoTo was added as a kind of afterthought. As a result eveything works smoothly, all motors and cables are integrated into the mount body and the mount is very easy to use, even for beginners.

No matter whether you are an experienced amateur, or a beginner, you will soon be able to observe a multitude of beautiful objects without bothering with the difficult process of finding them in the first place.

The Sphinx is also one of the most quiet GoTo mounts that we know, so you will not get into trouble with your neighbours because of the noise!

Two Versions

The standard SPHINX has a load capacity that is a little bit higher than that of the GP-D2. Vixen rates the load capacity at approx. 12kgs.

The Deluxe version has a load capacity of approximately 15kgs and is therefore meant primarily for users with intense astrophotographical interest.

The better load capacity is reached through the following changes:

-- two roller bearings in RA and three roller bearings in DEC

-- roller bearings for the worm shafts

-- steel axes instead of aluminium

There are also some other important changes compared with the normal Sphinx:

-- more precise worm gears in RA

-- flat base for easier adaptation to other tripods

-- the Polar Alignment Scope is already included in the Deluxe version

SX1.jpg (27681 Byte)
The Star Book GoTo controller. The large colour display makes this GoTo drive particularly easy to use.

Features and Specifications of the Vixen SPHINX Mount

- Weight of the equatorial head 6.8kgs (standard version)
- Weight of the equatorial head: 8.8kgs (Deluxe version)

- load capacity:

Standard version: up to approx. 12kgs (Newtonians up to 8" aperture, lightweight Newtonians up to 10", Schmidt-Cassegrains up to 9.25", refractors up to 6"), depending on the lever arm

Deluxe version: up to approx. 15kgs

- GoTo drive. Large colour display. Servo motors, very quiet

- mechanical stability is comparable to the Vixen GP-DX

- 180-tooth precision worm wheels in RA and DEC

- latitude adjustable from 0° to 70° (coarse adjustment + fine adjustment for +/- 15°)

- azimuth fine adjustment integrated into the altitude block - the flat base allows you to use selfmade pillars.

- optional polar alignment scope PF-SX1 (System Atlux) with integrated circular level for exact polar alignment (included in the Deluxe version)

- quick release device using the standard Vixen / Synta dovetail format

- retractable counterweight shaft for easy transport

- dimensions: 360mm x 360mm x 120mm

SX1.jpg (27681 Byte)
Sphinx Deluxe with white motor covers.

Features of the STAR BOOK - GoTo Controller of the Vixen SPHINX

- controller with integrated star chart. Just use the four control buttons to center the object of your choice and the mount will move the object into your eyepiece automatically

- large colour display - adjustable brightness - resolution 320x240 pixels - 4096 colours

- 22.725 object database including stars, Messier, NGC and IC objects

- manual slew speed depends on the zoom setting on the display

- even at high speeds the mount needs only 10 watts (12V DC)

- LAN-port for attaching the controller to a PC for updates

- fast 32 bit RISC processor

- AGA-1-/Skysensor-compatible autoguider port

- dimensions: 195mm x 145mm x 28mm

- weight: 400g

- integrated speaker

- the autoguider port is compatible to SBIG

Item No.	Short description	Price - Euros incl. VAT
SPHINX Feldversion	Vixen SPHINX equatorial head including Star Book GoTo controller and one counterweight. (Vixen designation: SXW) Without polar alignment scope, without tripod	1475.-
SPHINX Deluxe Feldversion	Vixen SPHINX Deluxe (Vixen designation: SXD) equatorial head including Star Book GoTo controller and one counterweight. Including polar alignment scope. Without tripod	2198.-
SPHINX HAL 130	Vixen tripod HAL-130 for Sphinx. Not compatible to GP / GP-DX	199.-

Link to lots of additional accessories for astronomical mounts


Porta - AZ Mount with slow motion controls	Skypod Mount GoTo alt-azimuth mount


GP-D2 astrophotographical mount	SPHINX and SPHINX Deluxe GoTo mounts