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Modular Telescope
Mounting Systems by GEOPTIK
  Telescopes
often come with very basic mounting hardware made out of thin
alloys, which flex as you point to different parts of the sky.
What's needed is a strong, rigid platform between scope and mount to
reduce flexure, image shift and inaccurate tracking for sharper CCD
or DSLR images with tighter, rounder star points. It needs to be
modular allowing you to add guide scopes or mount different types of
optical tube without additional cost, with quicker and safer setup
and take down.
The Geoptik range is a very high
quality yet affordable modular and rigid telescope mounting system,
CNC machined out of solid aluminium. It's the perfect platform to
combine different optical tube assemblies with equatorial mounts -
such as the Vixen GP, Orion Atlas, Skywatcher EQ6, HE-Q5, Losmandy
G11 and GM8. A rigid
side-by-side arrangement in a SkyShed POD, with a refractor guide
scope alongside a Celestron C11 on a Skywatcher EQ6 mount. |
USP - Universal Saddle
Plate
 The
core of the Modular Mounting System. This
all-in-one plate lets you attach both larger Losmandy or smaller Vixen dovetail
bars to your telescope mount. It grips the bar firmly with even pressure without
damaging it, and has mounting holes to attach it to your mount or another
dovetail plate.
Note: You need the
"EQ6 Adapter Puck" to attach it to the EQ mount heads (packages
below). Left, the USP on a Skywatcher EQ-6
mount.
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Above, Losmandy &
Vixen bars both fit the USP. |
USP & EQ-6 mounting puck kit
 
A USP plus a matching CNC machined and anodised puck to attach the USP to your
Skywatcher EQ6 mount. This reduces flex by replacing the standard 2-screw
dovetail clamp with a precision machined solid aluminium puck which bolts
directly to the mount head. Reduced flex means less vibration and more accurate
long exposure imaging, with more detail and tighter stars. It's also quicker,
safer and more secure to mount an un-mount your scope in the dark. Probably the
most useful single upgrade to your mount-train. Includes 4 stainless steel
countersunk Allen bolts.
Order USP & EQ-6 mounting puck |
Losmandy dovetail bar
 The
Losmandy dovetail bar comes in 2 sizes and is an extremely strong, lightweight
platform for your telescope and imaging equipment.
Add Celestron C-8 adapters (shown opposite right) to bolt your C8 OTA straight
to the dovetail bar for superior stability and strength.
Order Losmandy dovetail bar
170mm Short Losmandy Dovetail Bar
code #30A051
330mm Long Losmandy Dovetail Bar
code #30A064
Above, a 330mm Long
Dovetail Bar mounted on a 300mm Losmandy Dual Saddle Plate.
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Vixen dovetail bar
 Replace
your existing Vixen GP, Orion or Synta Skywatcher dovetail bar with a solid CNC
machined aluminium one which is stronger, looks great, and is less prone to
flexing unlike the hollow extruded ones which came with your telescope. Test
this by taking rocking your OTA from side-to-side with the mount tightened and
you'll be amazed at the flexure! Available in 3 lengths, see diagram to
right.
Order Vixen dovetail bar here
Left,
a 250mm #30A059 Vixen dovetail bar shown mounted on the Universal Saddle Plate. |
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Refractor guide scope
tube rings 130mm ID
 A
pair of strong, well machined guide rings to mount a refractor in tandem or
"piggyback" mode. Fits most aftermarket dovetail bars with 3 mounting holes and
a flattened base. Includes Nylon-tipped screws so you don't mark the scope.
Order guide-scope rings here
Left,
an 80mm refractor, with guide scope rings shown mounted on a Losmandy long
plate, mounted in turn on a USP.
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Dual Saddle Plates
(DSP)
Mount
your existing Vixen GP, Orion or Synta Skywatcher telescopes side-by-side. Using
a side-by-side setup minimises working height (allowing a better, lower
observatory fit perfect for a POD) and keeps the centre of gravity close to the
mount pivot point, reducing the need for additional counterweights compared to a
traditional "piggyback" setup. IT also uses the mount and hardware to carry the
weight - instead of the OTA like in a "piggyback" setup. The Dual Saddle Plate
is available in 4 widths and in Vixen/Synta format or Losmandy format, see
diagram to
right.
300mm Losmandy DSP
(#30A051)
300mm Vixen GP / Synta DSP
(#30A053)
450mm Losmandy DSP (#30A052)
450mm Vixen GP / Synta DSP (#30A054)
Order Dual Saddle Plates here
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All
Images & text, Copyright Altair Astro Limited, All rights
reserved. |
