Sky-Watcher EQ8 PRO equatorial mount

Sky-Watcher EQ8 GoTo Equatorial Mount with 110-Pound Weight Capacity, all-metal internal construction, 435:1 worm drive on the RA and DEC axis, and SynScan computerized GoTo system. This version of the Sky-Watcher EQ8  equatorial mount comes with a tripod/ pier and a single counterweight. Full specs at the end of this narrative. Recommended for intermediate astronomers, especially those with an observatory, the EQ8 has a class-leading carrying capacity and neatly fills the gap between the venerable NEQ6 and much more expensive high-end mounts.

I have listed this for local pickup in Port Townsend -  I am willing to ship it, but it will need to be packed, palletized, and shipped by truck - I imagine the weight will be ~200 lbs. That will take time and be added to the cost. Contact me if you want it shipped and I will research the time and cost.

When taking delivery of this Sky-Watcher EQ8 PRO, you’ll need to help unloading the boxes because they are heavy. The mount head, hand controller, cables, and counterweight shaft are supplied in a custom-built armored rolling case that ensures their safety. The tripod comes in the second box, while another box contains the counterweight.

Leveling the mount is made simple by the inclusion of three free-standing, height-adjustable feet. First-time assembly takes about half an hour using the excellent instructions in the two manuals supplied, but subsequent assembly is much quicker.

Everything about this mount is heavy duty, underpinning its suitability for permanent installation in an observatory. Azimuth adjustment is carried out using two opposing hand bolts against a central pillar, and thanks to the large nylon pads on the pier top the movement is very smooth and controllable. Altitude adjustment is achieved using a large single worm drive with a chrome T bar at one end to push or pull the base of the mount into the correct position, and this is very easy to operate. Once the correct elevation has been set, the mount is locked by two substantial hand bolts; tightening a further two Allen bolts ensures that nothing can subsequently move. The 32mm-diameter declination counterbalance rod screws securely into the base of the RA axis.

There is an iterative polar alignment routine controlled by the SynScan hand controller that results in quite accurate polar alignment. The EQ8 has a very useful ‘auto-home’ feature that uses two home sensors to place the mount in a repeatable position at the start of each session, ideal for running the star alignment routines.

The EQ8 has auxiliary encoders on both the RA and dec. axes that work in conjunction with a special function built into the hand controller called ‘Freedom Find’. Provided the mount isn’t turned off after alignment, you can unlock either or both clutches at the same time and manually move the telescope to point in a new direction, and the auxiliary encoders will keep track of the movement. When you then relock the clutches, the Go-To system will carry on tracking, knowing exactly where the telescope is now pointing.

The installed saddle is a very heavy-duty Losmandy-style unit with three spring-loaded, 8mm hand bolts to clamp the jaws firmly closed. The ends of the side cuts are neatly chamfered to make the installation of the telescope’s dovetail bar easier.

The SynScan hand controller is well established and will be well known to many astronomers. It gives access to a database of over 42,000 objects chosen from Solar System, NGC, IC, Messier, Caldwell, SAO, Named Star, Variable Star and Double Star categories, as well as being capable of generating a deep-sky tour.

The switchable 12V power connector has a retaining collar to avoid accidental disconnection, while the standard ST4-compatible guide port and hand controller socket are complemented by a ‘snap’ socket – this allows you to control a DSLR shutter via the hand controller.

A very substantial braced tripod with an adjustable-height pier is included. The pier can be set at any height from 800mm to 1,100mm. The top platform has a geared drive to tighten the central mounting bolt to the mount, while large nylon pads make azimuth adjustment very smooth.