Saxon HEQ5 PRO Go-To Astronomy Mount w/ Steel Tripod

$2,099.95

Saxon HEQ5 Pro GOTO Mount

The saxon HEQ5 Pro Mount with Steel Tripod provides the precision and stability needed for serious observing.

This HEQ5 Pro Mount includes a built-in illuminated polar scope for both Southern and Northern Hemispheres, a latitude adjuster with micrometer scale, an azimuth polar-alignment adjuster, aluminium setting circles, large manual slow-motion tracking controls, bubble level and steel tubular tripod legs

 

 

Only 2 left in stock (can be backordered)

Description

NOTE FOR A LIMITED TIME, THERE IS A SPECIAL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MOUNT – Free EQMod cable (say if you want the 2m or 5m version) at checkout.  

The saxon HEQ5 Pro Mount with Steel Tripod provides the precision and stability needed for serious observing. We at Astro Dog recommend getting the best mount you can, right from the start.

This HEQ5 Pro Mount includes a built-in illuminated polar scope for both Southern and Northern Hemispheres, a latitude adjuster with micrometer scale, an azimuth polar-alignment adjuster, aluminium setting circles, large manual slow-motion tracking controls, bubble level and steel tubular tripod legs.

The HEQ5 Pro is a heavy duty mount that can take solid loads.  Note these load recommendations are based on user experience rather than any specific manufacturer recommendation.

  • VISUAL : 15kg load
  • IMAGING: 11kg load

The HEQ5 Pro mount is a mount costing less than $2000 with an impressive combination of ease-of-use, stability and tracking performance. It is probably the mount most recommended to someone wanting to begin astrophotography.

The SynScan computerised handset’s two-line illuminated LCD screen is easy to read and navigate. One-star, two-star and three-stars alignment routines are available and are easy to use. All work but three-star alignment is the ‘gold standard’ because it corrects for cone error. Once aligned, SynScan Go-To will automatically place objects in the eyepiece field-of-view wherever they are in the sky. Think Sat-Nav for astronomers! You can also control the mount from a laptop or desktop PC.

Similar to the larger EQ6 Pro, the HEQ5’s counterweight shaft slides neatly into the body of the mount for easy storage and transportation. It also has a built-in polar alignment scope which makes it easier to align the polar axis of the mount to the Earth’s axis of rotation (whilst not strictly necessary for Go-To pointing accuracy, tracking is improved if the mount is polar-aligned). Looking through the polar scope you will see a graphic that enables you to offset quickly and easily from Polaris to the true north celestial pole.

The saxon HEQ5 Pro Mount with Steel Tripod features and includes the following:

  • A user friendly Synscan hand controller
  • 2x 5.1Kg counter weight
  • Wall-to-wall large accessory tray
  • 1.75″ stainless steel tripod legs
  • Retractable counterweight shaft
  • 1.8 degree step angle and 64 micro steps driven
  • Motor resolution at 0.144arc sec (or 9.024,000 steps/rev.)
  • Slew speeds from 2x, 8x, 18x, 32x, 64x, 400x, 500x, 600x, and up to 3.4°/sec (800X)
  • Sidereal, Solar and Lunar tracking rates
  • One, Two and Three star alignment options
  • Auto guider interface for astrophotography
  • Guiding speed from 0.25x, 0.50x, 0.75x, or 1x
  • Minimal vibration for steady long-exposure astrophotography
  • Payload Capacity 13.7Kg
  • Containing over 42,900 objects with complete Messier, NGC and IC Catalogues.
  • Positioning accuracy up to 1 arc minute. Accuracy enhanced by software collimation error (mount mechanical error) compensation
  • Periodic error correction
  • Firmware upgradeable via internet download
  • PC Compatibility
  • Car power supply adapter included
  • Requires 11 to 15V DC 2A power supply (not included).

User Comments

“I like a lot of people got into Astrophotography during the first lockdown and I have fallen deep into the rabbit hole! Started out using my ioptron skyguider pro with ipolar (also from FLO), but after watching countless youtube tutorials and seeing this mount was mentioned a lot and seemed popular I decided to take the plunge. Lets start with the cons:

I have only used it three times, first being a failure and the reason why was the polar scope crouching down and looking though that is a nightmare and when the mount was on the reticule has a red light, but its so bright there is no way of seeing any stars I have heard there is a setting in the hand controller to dim this down, but I have never found it. As you can imagine using software with the ipolar was a breeze this was a nightmare. My only other con was altitude bolts if you are above 50 degrees latitude you have to remove the cap from the polar scope in order to get the bolts rounds. I have never really understood the push pull of the alt / az bolts, fine tuning is a must there must be an easier option these days?

The pros: Where to start, its sturdy once up this mount does not move, but its also fairly light if you need to pick it up and move it I can do this with all the equipment on (I use a small refractor). I was torn between this and the EQR6 Pro, but that being a lot heavier I decided to go with the HEQ5 pro this way I feel I can still pack it up in the car and drive to a dark sky. Tracking seems impressive I have only done to 300s subs so far, but this mount will go longer if I want it to. Also when tracking its totally silent I cant hear the motors running at all. When slewing you can its quite loud, but that music to my ears. The payload capacity is impressive and more than enough for my needs. Lets be honest as well it just looks great reminds me of a laser canon from Star Wars when all set up!

The reason I have rated this as 5 stars and not 4 dues to the above cons is I have purchased the EQMOD cable along with the ASI AIR Pro and using these in unison eliminated the need to look through the polar scope altogether. These two additional purchases in my opinion have made my astrophotography journey amazing. I can now polar align within a few arc seconds in under 5 minutes complete one plate solve and slew to target all using the EQMOD / ASI AIR Pro from my phone its unbelievably simple. No 1 2 3 star alignments I have never even done those! The hand controller is no longer used and every time I select a target it slews, plate solves and centres it.

I have gone off a little here, but I hope it helps others in making their decisions. This is a good mount, but the polar scope is annoying. This is an incredible mount when used with ASI Air pro!

I had to wait almost three months for this (covid) but my gosh it was worth it.” – Simon

Owning this mount for just a week, im just amazed. You just can’t find any con to review on. I am primarily using it for planet photography and a good polar alignment with 1 star-alignment is faultless! I am easily capturing 5000 frames (about 10 fps ~ 8 minutes) and the object I’m capturing, just doesn’t move from the center of the view. As for astrophotography, I haven’t really tried it because I live in a city and there is a lot of light pollution. Once I tried some random messier objects and the result was outstanding! 30 second exposures with 1 star alignment, giving 0 faults and pin-point stars! I am so happy about this purchase and as always FLO provides the best prices on the market. If this isn’t the best price-for-value mount, then I don’t know what it is.” Stavros

Package Dimensions:

  • Box 1 – 125x23x23, 18.6kg
  • Box 2 – 42x42x18cm, 11.2kg

Questions?  Call us on 1300 ASTRODOG or just use the form!

e.g. "Peter"

Additional information

Weight 29 kg
Dimensions 125 × 23 × 23 cm

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