Mobile astrophotography is becoming ever more popular! Get away from the glare of light pollution in cities and take your photos where it's really dark. The Omegon 8'' astrograph on the iOptron iEQ45 Pro mount is made for this - its compact design and light weight make it ideal. Of course it is a powerful combination for use at home too.
Omegon f/4 astrograph - for unforgettable astronomy photos
Which other type of telescope can be used to create a beautiful image with so little effort? With Omegon astrographs this is easier than with 'ordinary' telescopes. Why? The answer is obvious - because an aperture ratio of f/4 means a big light output and consequently shorter exposure times. Immerse yourself in the world of deep sky photography. Admire faint galaxies or details in hydrogen nebulae. The Omegon astrograph sets a new benchmark for your astronomy photos.
The advantages in a nutshell
- f/4 astrograph - a telescope with ultra-fast aperture ratio for short exposures
- suitable to go on medium mountings due to its short overall length
- wide field of view for extended objects - approx. 24mm is illuminated
- 94% reflection parabolic main mirror for bright images
- large secondary mirror - good illumination for DSLR cameras
- robust 2" focuser with 1:10 reduction and 1.25" reducer
- faster cool-down for getting started observing quicker - main mirror fan
94% reflection f/4 main mirror
Astrographs are suitable for visual observing, but only show their full potential when used for astrophotography. Their f/4 aperture means they are among the 'fastest' Newtonian telescopes around, allowing you to take shorter exposure images.
The secondary mirror and the parabolic BK7 main mirror are 94% reflective, providing brighter and higher contrast images. One can see a visible improvement when compared to a 'normal' mirror which is around 88% reflective.
No shadows, only light - large secondary mirror
Attach your DSLR camera or a modern CCD camera to the telescope and enjoy impressive illumination over a wide field of view. No shadowing is noticeable thanks to the particularly large secondary mirror (see also below). Observing with 2" wide-field eyepieces is now perfect.
Less mistakes - more fun with the photography
The particularly short OTA length and focal length means the telescope is compact - the astrograph is about 20% shorter as compared to an f/5 system. This means you can also use this OTA's excellent optics on a medium mount, saving yourself the expense and clumsiness of a heavier mount.
Another advantage is that the astrograph is perfect for extended deep sky objects thanks to its shorter focal length. This system is also more tolerant of small tracking errors than a telescope with a longer focal length. You will achieve some astounding astrophotography with even just a little effort.
2" Crayford focuser with 1:10 fine focusing
The Omegon V-Power focuser provides precision focusing for all astronomical objects. The 1:10 reduction, sturdy ball-bearings and guide rail make the focuser stable and easy-to-use. Its optimized design means the focuser can safely carry cameras weighing up to 5 kilograms without any slipping.
- extremely precise operation - the ball bearings and stainless steel guide rail mean the focuser tube runs smoothly and precisely
- can carry heavy cameras and eyepieces - no slipping with up to 5kg loads
- 1:10 reduction means precise focusing, includes a focus scale
- anti-reflection baffles for high contrast
The iEQ45 Pro equatorial mount with GoTo is a top-of-the-line mount for mobile astrophotography!
Compared to the previous model, iOptron has made several improvements:
- Stepper motors (instead of servo motors) with 128 steps
- Larger gear ratio for smoother running and precision
- Many small improvements in design (e.g. all slots are easier to reach, the motor cover is now made of one piece, etc.)
The iEQ45 incorporates the latest GoTo technology from iOptron, including a 32-bit GPS. The Go2Nova hand control box has a large display that shows all relevant information at a glance in several lines (in English). Thanks to GPS, you don't need to enter the time and location separately. However, if there are difficulties with the satellites, it is of course possible to enter this data manually.
A calibrated and illuminated pole finder is permanently integrated. Via the Quick Polar Alignment menu item, the hand control box shows you the relative position of the North Star to the north celestial pole, as the North Star is not exactly in the north. You can then use the engraving in the finder to align the North Star precisely. This is quick and very accurate. To make the alignment even more accurate, use the Two Star Polar Align procedure: After you have aligned the North Star in the finder, you can check and correct the quality of the alignment using two stars.
However, you can also align the mount without an optical pole finder. The electronics offer a routine called Polar Iterate Align, which allows you to align the mount to a bright star using the telescope. This is particularly helpful if you do not have a clear view of the North Star.
To use the GoTo function of your iEQ45 Pro premium mount, alignment is not enough. You must also align the mount in the sky. This can be done quickly using One Star Alignment or Solar System Alignment on a planet or the moon. For high demands on the accuracy of the GoTo, use Three Star Alignment, i.e. alignment to three stars specified by the hand control box.
The mount can safely carry up to 20 kilograms, but weighs only 11 kilograms itself, which is an excellent ratio of load capacity to weight and makes the mount interesting for mobile use. Telescopes with both Vixen and Losmandy rails can be mounted.
Additional accessories included:
- 12V cigarette lighter cable
- power pack
- Go2Nova hand control box 8407 with connection cable
- RS232-RJ9 cable
- counterweights
- Very detailed instructions in English
