Vixen SPHINX Professional SXP2 Equatorial GoTo Mount

The summit of the SX series of equatorial mounts, with excellent accuracy, high rigidity and quick response has been redesigned for increased performance.

Enhanced rigid euqatorial mount body

A pair of ball bearings used for bearing stands of the R.A. axis of the SXP2 has changed to larger tapered bearings to increase strength. A distance between the bearing stands is widen to have the loading capacity increased. A wall thickness of the R.A. body housing is increased. The R.A. body is caught tightly in fork arms of the same that are used for the upper-class Vixen AXJ equatorial mount. This ensures lightweight but strong enough to hold the equatorial body.

Accurate celestial tracking with the P-PEC function

The STAR BOOK TEN equipped with various functions are provided for the Vixen SXP2 equatorial mount. Among of them, the P-PEC function gives an advantage greatly to the celestial tracking. The PEC stands for Periodic Error Corrections and it electrically rectifies uneven motion of the tracking gear wheels which generates periodically and inheritently in the gear driven systems. For the Vixen SXP2 equatorial mount, a P-PEC function which was advanced from the PEC function is provided. The P-PEC function retains the records of your corrections after the power is turned off on the equatorial mount. It is not necessary to obtain the data every time and it achieves more accurate tracking quickly. (The P-PEC function will be only activated if the STAR BOOK TEN is connected to the equatorial mount.

The belt drive system achieves minimum backlash and noiselessness

In the conventional motor drive system of equatorial mounts, motion power of the motor was conveyed to the worm gears to rotate. The gear trains require a minimum amount of play to move the gears and the amount of play increases as the number of gears increases. To avoid this, transmission of the motion power has been changed from the gears to a belt drive system. As a retult, both backlash from the gaer trains and gear noise have been reduced dramatrically. In addition, quick respose has been achieved.

16 pieces of bearings

A total 16 pieces of bearings are set in the mechanical parts such as the R.A. and DEC axes, and worm gears of the Vixen SXP2 equatorial mount. This configuration realizes smooth movements without stress.

Adoption of fork arms to hold the main body

The same fork arms that are used for the upper-class Vixen AXJ equatorial mount is adopted to support the main body strongly. It results in high stability of the equatorial mount.

Simple polar alignment scope

The polar alignment scope allows you to align the equatorial mount to the N.C.P or S.C.P accurately with simple adjustments. It has the built-in scales and reticle where stars adjacent to the N.C.P and S.C.P. are indicated. In case of the northern hemisphere, it is possible to align as acurate as 3 arc minutes easily by setting Polaris and other two stars simulataneously to the designated position on the scalse. The polar scopes' reticle is illuminated in red in the dark field of view by a push of the button. It is convenient as you can view stars on the relatively dark background. Also, it is a great help as all the alignment can be finished in the dark while looking through the polar scope. The brightness of the illuminated reticle can be adjusted in 8 levels, so you can adjust it to your preference. The red light becomes gradually dimmer after a certain interval of time (about one or two minutes) and turns off automatically.

The mount head available for a variety of optical tubes and accessories

The mount head features 35mm in diameter and eight threaded holes for M8 screws that are arranged at an intervals of 45 degrees. It can be attached an optional accessory plate directly or in combination with an optional dovetail-plate mounting block. The threaded holes on the mount head can accept other manufacturer's tube plates also.

Comfortable operation using the STAR BOOK TEN with celestial navigation system

As you designate a celestial object of your interest on the STAR BOOK TEN screen, it allows you to slue automatically to the celestial object to bring it into the field of view of your telescope, and then start tracking it continuously. Various celestial navigation functions are displayed beautifully on a wide 5-inch TFT color LCD. Easy-to-use commands and direction keys can be backlit in red to let you operate the controller comfortably in a dark observing site.

A fusion of innovative, elegant design and user-friendly operation that are useful to every level of star gazers

The marriage of the strong, rigid equatorial mount body with high accurate tracking by P-PEC and the STAR BOOK TEN with versatile fuctions as an excellent interface have created the most user-friendly platform for both visual observation and astrophotography.

Advanced motor layout for less weight

The heavy R.A. and DEC motor units are placed in the lower part of the declination body so that the center of balance of the equatorial mount shifts to below the crossing point of the R.A. and DEC axes. This makes the declination body act as a counterweight. Also, the low-profile mount head allows the equatorial mount to balance with less weight.

Retractable counterweight bar

The counterweight bar is a durable stainless steel of 20mm thick and it allows for using all the counterweights for the Vixen SX series of the equatorial mounts. The counterweight bar is stored inside the declination body. This aids in quick set up.

Accessory shoe on the R.A. body

There is an accessory shoe for an optional Vixen Polar Meter which is a compass with a bubble level and an altitude scale used for locating Polaris with ease. It allows for simple set up in daytime.

STAR BOOK TEN

Scope of Delivery

• Vixen SPHINX Professional SXP2 Equatorial GoTo Mount
• Allen wrenches (one each of 6mm, 5mm, 1.5mm and 1.27mm)
  - Phillips head screwdriver
  - CR2032 battery for the built-in clock
  - M8 screws (2 pieces)
  - Ferrite core for LAN cable
• Cigerette-lighter plug cord SX
• Star Book TEN controller
• Controller cable for SBT