Vixen SX2 GoTo Mount with Star Book One Controller

Vixen SX2 GoTo Mount with Star Book Controller

Features

• Motorized Equatorial Mount
• Dual Precision Stepper Motors
• Star Book One Dual-Axis Go-To Hand Controller
• Multiple Tracking and Slew Speeds
• PEC / Backlash Compensation
• Integrated Polar Axis Scope
• Declination Body Acting as Part of Counterweight
• Retractable Counterweight Bar
• Vixen-Style Dovetail Saddle
• 27 lb Photographic Load Capacity

The SX2 equatorial mount offers simple and easy operation of your telescope with a newly developed STAR BOOK ONE dual-axis handheld controller. With Vixen's accurate micro-step motion control technology, the SX2 mount achieves highly stable and smooth rotations of the pulse motors. The SX2 mount is a good choice for starting the first step to serious celestial observing.

The massive motor units are placed in the lower part of the declination body so that the center of balance of the SX2 shifts below the intersection of the RA and Dec axes. This makes the lower portion of the declination body perform as a counterweight and allow the mount to work with less counterweight.

Durable stainless steel is used for the counterweight bar. It is moved back into the mount body for storage by loosing the bar lock lever. It is convenient for transporting the mount and for easy set up.

The SX2 mount comes with the STAR BOOK ONE controller featuring a variety of functions in a simple design. Designed for ease of use, the lightweight STAR BOOK ONE moves the SX2 mount on the X and Y dual axis (RA and Dec directions). Versatile tracking options are available in addition to sidereal and solar tracking rates. Backlash compensation, autoguider port and built-in red LED light are some of the useful functions of the STAR BOOK ONE.

Mount

• Motorized German equatorial
• Payload capacity: 35.2 pounds, excluding counterweights
• Altitude:
• 0-70° adjustment
• High, middle and low latitude zone settings
• Adjustment range: ±15°, in each zone
• Altitude Scale: 2° increments
• Twin T-bar handles with 0.8°/rotation
• 40mm diameter, carbon steel axis shaft
• Azimuth:
• ±7° fine adjustment
• Twin tangent screws/knobs
• 1.2°/rotation
• 40mm diameter, carbon steel axis shaft
• 15 stainless steel ball bearing for smooth low-vibration tracking and slewing
• Integrated 20mm counterweight shaft retracts into mount when not in use
• Includes 4.2 lb and 8.2 lb counterweights
• Vixen-style dovetail saddle

Gears and Motors

• Two stepping (pulse) motors at 250 pulses per second
• Right ascension:
• 180-tooth full circle micro-movement gear
• 72mm diameter
• Brass wheel
• Declination:
• 180-tooth full circle micro-movement gear
• 72mm diameter
• Brass wheel
• Integrated bubble level

Polar Axis Scope

• 6x20
• Integrated into mount
• Field of view: 8°
• Illuminated reticle
• Setting accuracy to within 3 arcsec
• Time graduation circle: 10 arcminutes increments between 16 h and 8 h (the following day)
• Date graduation circle: 2-day increments
• Meridian offset circle: Adjustable between 20° East and 20° West, in 5° increments
• Northern hemisphere: Polaris guide scale, accurate to 2025
• Southern hemisphere: Octant 4 stars pattern

Star Book One

• Allows remote control of mount and automatic tracking for reduced vibration and ease-of-use
• Celestial, Solar, Lunar, and King's Rate Tracking
• Variable slewing speeds from 0.1x to 999x sidereal
• Backlash compensation eliminates 'settling' between gear teeth for precision slewing and tracking
• Periodic Error Correction (PEC) enables tracking errors to be programmed-out for higher precision
• Autoguider port
• Physical characteristics:
• Adjustable screen brightness
• Red LED backlit direction keys