Sky-Watcher SolarQuest Mounts

• Automatic alt-azimuth mount with Heliofind™ technology for sun-tracking
• Automatically aligns your solar telescope with the sun
• Suitable for telescopes weighing up to approx. 4 kg
• Tripod mounting thread: 3/8" female photo thread
• NOT intended for use with the night sky!
• Available with tripod and half-column or separately.

Observing the Sun has never been easier! Sky-Watcher’s clever, technically advanced SolarQuest™ mount is extremely user-friendly and allows you to safely and automatically locate and observe the Sun with your solar telescope.

Here’s how:

• Set up the (optional) tripod – roughly level the tripod horizontally.
• Align the telescope – point the solar telescope to the left (east) of the Sun.
• Press the power button – with a single press of the button, the telescope is automatically levelled.
• Evaluate GPS data – the mount calculates the current Sun’s altitude based on the time and location.
• Automatic search – the telescope is raised to the calculated altitude; the mount rotates clockwise until the solar sensor detects the Sun.
• Locking & tracking – once detected, the mount keeps the Sun firmly in the field of view and tracks it continuously, provided the telescope is not moved.

Target audience

The Sky-Watcher SolarQuest™ mount is equally suitable for:

• Schools and educational institutions
• Beginners in solar observation
• Experienced amateur astronomers

When combined with a solar telescope, it is an ideal companion for:

• Observing sunspots
• Solar eclipses
• Detailed images of the solar surface
• Transits of inner planets across the solar disc

SAFETY WARNING:

Please follow all safety instructions for safe solar observation – if you make a mistake, you have exactly two attempts (left and right eye) before you go completely and permanently blind!

Technical specifications

• 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 altitude
• 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" Tripod Screw Fitting 
• Adjustable Aluminium Tripod with Accessory Tray
• Low Power Consumption
• Power Requirement: 8 AA Size Batteries (not supplied) or External Power Supply DC 12V, Tip Positive (via adaptor panel).
• Weight of the mount head: 1.26 kg