Vixen Optics AXJ GoTo EQ Mount with Star Book Ten (Head Only)

The AXJ mount is built with dual-axis stepper motors and a belt-drive system to provide smooth and precise tracking capabilities without noise, vibrations, or the backlash common with gear-drive systems. This iteration of the mount is offered here without a tripod for users who already have a reliable support system. The included polar axis scope has an illuminated star-pattern reticle that requires the user to simply superimpose the star pattern over the three prominent stars over the North Pole for proper polar alignment.

With this simple alignment done, the Star Book Ten controller can be used to provide full GoTo capabilities with a color display and intuitive menu system. Outfitted with an internal and updatable database of over 272,000 objects, the controller offers phased star charts, customized guided tours of the night sky, the ability to program out tracking errors using the Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC) and Vixen s Periodic Error Correction (VPEC) systems, and backlash compensation to improve the precision of the tracking system during long-duration observation sessions.

Mount

• German equatorial design is ideal for long-exposure astrophotography and viewing without field rotation
• Dual fork-arm pedestal-mount design helps to reduce weight without sacrificing strength or stability
• Threaded holes on the mounting head for an optical tube cradle accept Vixen s mounting plates and are designed for other manufacturer s plates four M8 metric screw holes/four UNC 5/16-inch screw holes
• 48.5-pound maximum payload capacity
• Latitude adjustment range: Full 360° & rotation, with two tangent screws at 1.7° & /rotation
• Altitude adjustment: 0-70° & divided in three zones for high, middle, and low altitude with ± 15° & /zone altitude scale in 5° & increments fine adjustment of 0.7° & /rotation
• Retractable 25mm counterweight shaft helps to avoid interference with gear and equipment
• 3.3- and 7.7-pound weights to precisely balance optical tube assembly and accessories
• Accessory cold shoe for optional polar meter used for locating Polaris allows for simple setup in daytime
• Size: 18.3x16.5x5.4
• Weight: 38.4 pounds, without counterweights
• Runs on 12 VDC power using included car/vehicle plug and cord
• Mount head only tripod or other support system required for proper use

• Micro-stepper motors with a precision belt-drive system to reduce noise, vibration, and backlash, 330 pulse/sec
• 14 roller bearings throughout mount provide smooth movement on all axes with greatly reduced vibration
• 15.5mm-diameter brass worm shaft
• Right ascension: 225-tooth, 114.5mm-diameter brass worm wheel gear with 365° & micro movement
• Declination: 192-tooth, 96mm-diameter brass worm wheel gear with 365° & micro movement
• 40mm carbon steel right ascension and declination axes

• Allows for full GoTo control of mount
• SEE-TO technology shows the sky on the screen before the GoTo system gets the optical tube assembly there for better reference
• Variable tracking rates for planets, Sun, Moon, and sidereal
• 272,000+ celestial object database with ability to customize and add user-defined objects
• Proprietary Vixen Periodic Error Protection (VPEC): Precision ± 4 arcsec tracking accuracy
• Intrinsic errors are measured and entered into memory at the factory for precision tracking out of the box use with PPEC to boost tracking performance
• Permanent Periodic Error Correction (PPEC) enables you to train out tracking errors for more accurate tracking over extended periods of time, such as long-exposure astrophotography
• Backlash compensation allows you to train out the play inherent in all gears for more precise tracking
• Hibernate mode for power saving without losing settings
• Variable slew speeds up to 800x sidereal maximum
• Autoguiding capable with the Vixen Advance Unit
• Working voltage: 12 VDC
• Size: 6.6x6x1
• Weight: 13.4 oz
• CPU: 32bit RISC Processor
• 5 color LCD screen with easy-to-use menus and night vision setting

Database details:

• 272,342 objects
• NC objects: 784
• IC objects: 5386
• Messier objects:109
• 7 planets
• 1 quasi-planet
• Moon
• Sun

Polar Axis Scope

• Use for precise polar alignment required for accurate tracking and GoTo functions
• Built in for convenience and ease of use
• 6x power magnifies view while maintaining a wide 8° & angle of view
• 20mm objective lens diameter
• <3 arcminute setting accuracy
• Ease of use: In the Northern Hemisphere, align three bright stars (Polaris, delta UMI, 51 Cep) with the corresponding pattern on the scope s illuminated reticle Octantis stars in the Southern Hemisphere
• Accurate through the year 2040
• Red illumination allows reticle to be easily seen without affecting night-adjusted vision
• Eight adjustable intensity levels allow precise brightness control
• Automatic off function after 2 minutes conserves battery power