Sky-Watcher MultiFunction Mount

Description

AT LAST! A MULTIFUNCTION ASTRONOMICAL AND TERRESTRIAL MOUNT FOR SMALL TELESCOPES, SPOTTING SCOPES, AND CAMERAS

The Sky-Watcher Multi-function Mount is an exciting breakthrough technology offering point-and-view astronomical tracking, plus automatic terrestrial land surveys. The patented mount moves intuitively about the horizontal and vertical axes ensuring simple, easy-to-use operation. No counter-weights or cantilevering to contend with. The mount is very compact and lightweight, facilitating easy transport and storage. MultiMount is perfect for backyard astronomy or observing from remote locations while hiking, camping, on vacation, or enjoying adventures in your RV.

ASTRONOMICAL MODE
MultiMount is a breeze to operate. After a simple set-up, just point to any astronomical body in the sky and the mount automatically begins following the object across the heavens making the stars stand-still. Without this automatic tracking function, an observer would need to make manual adjustments to the telescope's physical viewing orientation every minute, or so. Therefore MultiMount eliminates the tedium of manual tracking. The observer benefits greatly from the freedom to leisurely gaze at the stars in an uninterrupted continuum while Multimount does all the work of following objects as they traverse the heavens.

Why is astronomical tracking important? Observing astronomical phenomenon involves following moving targets due to the Earth's rotation. View the Moon for a short time with the naked eye and it appears motionless. Several hours later, however, it will be in a different location. Seen through a telescope, the Moon is in constant motion drifting across the eyepiece field. Saturn viewed at higher power will move through the eyepiece field in less than a minute, very quickly indeed.

TERRESTRIAL MODE
MultiMount includes a multi-location terrestrial surveillance mode. The sophisticated built-in software allows land surveys for 6 different locations. No set-up is required to operate in land mode. Astronomical tracking is turned off for terrestrial survey applications.

Given the mount is kept in, or returned to the same exact physical orientation from session to session, the software memorizes the positions the telescope is to point to and automatically goes to these positions on demand. You simply press the terrestrial "cruise" button and the number of the location desired, the telescope then moves into viewing position. It is also possible to command the telescope to cruise to each location in sequence, stop for a moment, and move on to the next location. You can scout out your favorite points of interest across the urban panorama automatically. Enjoy quick access to what is happening at your favorite bird feeder. Keep an eye on property access points, or use the technology for thousands of other interesting applications. The mount accommodates most spotting scopes, cameras, video camcorders, and binoculars with 1/4", 20-thread receptors. A Snap cable is provided to allow automatic imaging at each of the six stopping points while in sequential "Cruise & Shoot" mode using a compatible digital camera.

ELECTRONIC HAND-CONTROLLER
Sky-Watcher MultiMount includes an ergonomically designed multi-speed electronic hand-controller. Space-age software enables the electronics to precisely control the sophisticated DC-Servo motors on each axis, facilitating smooth, accurate vertical and horizontal movement on demand. While in astronomical tracking mode, the "Guide" speed, (1x), compensates for the Earth's rotation making stars stand-still. "Slow" speed, (4x), allows ultra-fine position changes to center objects in the eyepiece or Viewfinder. "Fast", (8x), speed allows relatively quick gross incremental changes in location. With tracking mode turned off, the "Guide" speed accelerates to 32x; "Slow" speed to 64x; and "Fast" becomes a speed-demon at 800x. This allows the flexibility to transverse huge swaths of sky or terrestrial landscape in just a matter of seconds.

OPERATIONAL FEATURES
The Sky-Watcher MultiMount includes a latitude scale for adjustment of the telescopes equatorial orientation during the set-up process to facilitate more accurate tracking. An OFF-ON power switch appears at the bottom of the fork-arm. Two batteries holders requiring 4-AA size batteries each are housed inside the cap on the mount's base. A lever releases the cap to open. Provision is included for running the mount from AC power using a 12V, 2-Amp DC-adaptor via a DC power port on the fork-arm. An auxiliary jack is available for powering accessories that might run on 12v DC power under the fork-arm. Imaging devises with electronic shutters can utilize the Auto-imaging power-port on the fork-arm to facilitate exposures.

MULTIMOUNT CONPONENTS

• The Sky-Watcher MultiMount comes standard with a rock-solid tabletop tripod. A full length optional photo-type tripod is available, also. Legs are made of quality metal construction. The three section design of the optional tripod collapses for compact transport and storage. Optional tripod has a unique 3/8" screw threaded bolt that threads into the base of the telescope. (Note: a regular photo-tripod with 1/4", 20 thread attachment screw will be too small to be compatible with MultiMount's 3/8" threads.)
• An L-bracket is provided for attachment of most cameras, camcorders, and spotting scopes with 1/4", 20-thread receptors.
• A cable is provided for imaging while in terrestrial cruise & shot mode using a compatible digital camera
• MultiMount requires 8 AA-size batteries - user-supplied

The MultiMount's high-tech appearance is an elegant silver and black. The telescope has a rigid aluminum frame with composite material protective covers internalizing motors and electronics.