A tracking equatorial telescope mount is required to take long exposure images of the night sky without star trailing. There are many excellent astrophotography mounts available today from portable harmonic drive mounts like the ZWO AM5 to robust observatory-grade platforms like the Sky-Wather EQ8-R Pro.
If you are looking for a telescope mount that is well-rounded for almost all forms of astrophotography, I highly recommend the versatile Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro. With a maximum payload capacity of 44 pounds, it can handle a wide range of telescopes and imaging configurations.
If you are looking for the ultimate level of portability, you can also take a look at the many excellent star trackers available for astrophotography.
The ZWO AM5 is the astrophotography mount I didn’t think I needed. Yes, it perfectly matches the color of my existing ZWO cameras (and ASIAIR Plus), but do I really need a tracking telescope mount that doesn’t require a counterweight? I have casually observed a number of harmonic drive telescope mounts appear in the astrophotography…
I am often asked for my opinion on the best route to take when it comes to building a deep-sky astrophotography kit for the first time. A popular option for many night sky enthusiasts is to start with a DSLR camera and telescope, and I can understand why. Building a budget-friendly astrophotography setup that revolves…
The Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro is a computerized equatorial telescope mount with GoTo capabilities. This equatorial (EQ) mount is capable of providing precise, accurate tracking of the night sky, and is suitable for long-exposure astrophotography. The core specifications of this equatorial mount include having a built-in ST-4 autoguider port, a payload capacity of 44 pounds, and…