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Computerized GoTo Mounts

Computerized GoTo telescopes and mounts locate and track thousands of objects for you, slewing to targets from a handset or phone app. This collection suits observers and imagers who want automated pointing instead of manual star-hopping, plus the precise tracking long-exposure astrophotography needs.

It carries equatorial trackers and alt-azimuth GoTo mounts from Explore Scientific, including PMC-Eight tracker systems and Sidara Pro GoTo rigs.

Aligning a portable rig? Read Polar Alignment on the Go.
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Alt-azimuth or equatorial

The Sidara Pro is an alt-azimuth GoTo mount: it moves up and down and side to side like a camera tripod head, with no polar axis to align, and suits visual observing. The PMC-Eight mounts, the iEXOS-100 and the EXOS2-GT, are German equatorial: once polar aligned they track on one axis, so the field does not rotate during the long exposures deep-sky imaging needs.

How to choose

Payload

Keep the telescope and its accessories inside the mount's rating. The Sidara Pro takes up to 11 lb on a Vixen-style dovetail, and the iEXOS-100 about 9 lb of equipment. The EXOS2-GT is rated for 28 lb of instruments for astrophotography and 40 lb for visual use, plus counterweights. Explore Scientific sets the imaging figure lower because past a certain weight tracking error grows.

Control and power

The Sidara Pro runs from its hand controller or the SkyAssist phone app, on 8 AA batteries or a power bank. The PMC-Eight mounts run from Explore Scientific's free ExploreStars app on a tablet, with 2-star and 3-star alignment, and their ASCOM support lets astronomy software on a computer drive them.

Package or mount alone

The Sidara Pro mount comes alone or in a package with an 80 mm or 102 mm refractor or a 127 mm Maksutov-Cassegrain, each with 25 mm and 10 mm eyepieces. The iEXOS-100 and EXOS2-GT come with their tripods, ready for the tube you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does polar alignment take?

Point the polar axis north and set the altitude to your latitude before dark. After dark, a plate-solving tool such as SharpCap or NINA refines the alignment in 3 to 5 minutes.

Can I take pictures with an alt-azimuth GoTo mount?

Snapshots of the Moon and planets, yes: the Sidara Pro refractor packages include a smartphone adapter. Long deep-sky exposures need an equatorial mount, which keeps the field from rotating.

What powers them?

The Sidara Pro runs on 8 AA batteries or a power bank. The iEXOS-100-02 comes with a DC power supply and a bracket for a battery pack, and the EXOS2-GT with an AC power supply.

For the PMC-Eight mounts compared, read Comparing Explore Scientific's iEXOS-100-02, iEXOS-ET, EXOS2-GT, and for the Sidara Pro packages, Explore Scientific Sidara Telescopes Compared.

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