Astro-Tech Voyager Altazimuth Mount.

This exceptionally well-made and stable Astro-Tech Voyager altazimuth mount can be the
heart of your very portable telescope/mount system. It is perfect for grab-and-go terrestrial
observing and casual visual astronomy. The lightweight all-metal Astro-Tech Voyager can
hold substantial optical tubes weighing up to 20 pounds (9kg), but there are no heavy
counterweights to attach to balance a heavy tube and no alignment on the celestial pole
needed to start observing. Simply slide your optical tube into the Vixen-style dovetail on the
Voyager mount’s altitude axis and start viewing.
The angle of the mount’s altitude arm that holds your scope can be changed from vertical to
45° on either side of vertical. This allows you to put the azimuth control knob on either the
right or left hand side of the mount to suit your personal observing preferences. The mount
has two slow-motion control knobs (one altitude and one azimuth), plus an 8.25" flexible
control cable that can be substituted for the short azimuth control knob for more convenient
tracking when the mount is used with physically longer scopes.

The Astro-Tech Voyager mount has a dual friction clutch system that lets you quickly point a
scope towards a target manually, then track it in any direction with the smooth 120-tooth
worm gear 360° slow-motion controls. There’s no need to undo mechanical clutches in order
to aim your scope as you have to do when conventional slow motion controls run out of travel
before you reach your target. If you want to aim your scope at another part of the sky, simply
push it. The friction clutches disengage and the scope moves freely 360° in any direction.
Once you’re on or near the target, the slow motion control knobs let you center the object
precisely and track it accurately as it moves across the sky or landscape. Friction
adjustment knobs are provided to let you adjust the freedom of the manual slewing motion of
the scope to accommodate different payload weights.

The Astro-Tech Voyager mount has a standard Vixen dovetail mounting slot. It will accept
any telescope mounting shoe or dovetail plate designed to fit into the dovetail slot of a Vixen
Sphinx or Great Polaris, Celestron CG5 or Advanced Series, or Meade LXD55 or LXD75
mount. If your optical tube has mounting rings only, you will need to supply your own dovetail
plate to mount your optical tube on the Voyager. The Vixen #SDP2661 is suggested.

The Voyager’s adjustable height two-section aluminum tripod legs have pointed tips for a
solid stance on dirt or grass. Damping time is very short, for steady images, even while
tracking. All fittings on the legs are aluminum. There are no flimsy plastic hinges to break or
crack in use. The length of the legs can be adjusted to set the height of the centerline of the
dovetail slot in the mounting plate to between approximately 33.5" and 47.75" high. This lets
you choose the most comfortable seated observing position. The knobs that lock the tripod
legs at the desired height are thoughtfully placed on the inside of the legs, so they can’t snag
clothing or scrape shins in the dark. A bubble level is built into the tripod head.

A three-legged folding spreader bar assembly holds the aluminum legs firmly open, but lets
them be closed quickly and simultaneously for transport when you’re finished observing by
simply lifting up on the hinged center of the spreader bar assembly. The spreader bar will
accept any of a number of optional accessory trays. A set of tools (4mm and 6mm hex head
wrenches for the altitude arm and control knobs and a triangular flat metal key for the friction
adjustment knobs) are supplied with the Voyager.

The complete Astro-Tech Voyager mount and tripod assembly weighs only 13.75 lbs, yet has
a true 20 pound payload capacity, more than most other altazimuth mounts, even those
considerably more expensive. Compare features, payload, and price. Why pay more for less
performance? The Astro-Tech Voyager is a clear cut above the others.

Price - £199.00 + £10.00 shipping & insurance.

The Astronomy Shop

1 Tone Hill. Wellington

Somerset TA21 0AU

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)1823 665510