Vixen Telescope Mounts

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Vixen Mounts

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The Japanese manufacturer Vixen offers a broad range of high quality telescope mounts. Whether you are looking for a good quality, easily upgradable entry level mount or a professional mount for demanding astro-imaging, Vixen mounts will be a prime choice.

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Porta - AZ Mount with slow motion controls	Skypod Mount GoTo alt-azimuth mount


	GP-D2 astrophotographical mount	SPHINX GoTo mount	New Atlux heavy equatorial mount

Image: Refractor 80/910mm on Porta Mount

This new alt-azimuth mount from Vixen offers one thing in particular: Ease of use and quick setup. You don't need to polar align your mount, balance any counterweights or even set the mount up horizontally - just put it down wherever you wish to observe and start doing what you came for to do: Observe!

Its compact dimensions make this mount an ideal choice for travelling.

Good Mount for Beginners
For beginners nothing is equally important as ease of use. As a result this mount is a hot recommendation for everyone new to astronomy. It is particularly recommended if you do not want to have to think about how to operate your mount. You will be able to use it easily from the first night on.

Flexible Use - Also Suited for Nature Observing
Aside from its astronomical use the Porta Mount is also excellently suited for terrestrial use. With its slow-motion controls you can easily track the movements of a flying bird, ...

Slow Motion Controls
You want to track stars at high magnifications? Or follow the movements of a ship or a flying bird? Either way you will love the slow-motion controls provided with the Porta Mount. Just turn the slow motion knobs on either axis for a smooth, precise movement.

Quick Release Device
Telescopes or other instruments are mounted by means of a quick release device. Attaching them to the mount thus takes only a few seconds, as does breaking down the setup. Likewise the quick release device allows you to balance the instrument more easily.

We also offer the PS Foto, a short dovetail plate with a 1/4" thread for attaching a camera or spotting scope. Please note that the camera's orientation is 90° rotated to the left.

Vixen Porta Mount with slow motion controls in both axes

Specifications
-- Weight ....................................................................... 5.5 kgs including tripod
-- you can move the instrument in any position, including the zenith
-- precise slow motion controls through worm gears
-- adjustable friction clutch in both axes - you do not have to clamp the axes
-- load capacity approx. 5kgs

Tripod of the Porta Mount
Die Geräte werden auf eineThe mount comes with a sturdy aluminium tripod. The tripod is adjustable in height from approx. 90 - 130cm.

Feedback from a customer who uses the Vixen Porta mount with a Celestron 80mm ED refractor:

"Would you believe it I have had the C80ED up to 288X (5mm ocular+ Intes 2,4X Barlow) for several nights and this night I have not comletely split but sort of elongated Delta Cygnus at this mag. Amazing, stars are pinpoint and snapfocus even at this mag; it`s just fantastic!

Maybe even more extraordinary is that also the Vixen Porta takes this high mag.. Yes a few sec. of vibrations but it settles quickly and with the very nice slow-motion controlls I can follow the target even at 288X. As I wrote Amazing!" - Magnus from Sweden

Prices

Item No.	Short description	Price - SEK incl. VAT
Porta Montierung	Vixen Porta Mount with adjustable height aluminium tripod. With quick release device and dovetail plate for various telescopes. Load capacity approx. 5kgs Extra by TS: Dovetail plate for telescope connection included.	3475.-
PS Foto	short dovetail plate with 1/4" camera thread	215.-

Link to lots of additional accessories for astronomical mounts

Vixen's introduction of the Skypod has made available an attractive new telescope and mount concept. Both the mount and the optional telescope offer several interesting features:

A particularly easy to use controller

This new and portable GoTo travel mount uses the modified Starbook S hand controller that offers the same practical user concept of the Sphinx controller. A display will show you a map of the sky so that you always know where you are.

The first telescope to be offered on this revolutionary new mount is the newly developed VMC110L Field Maksutov.

Telescope and mount form separate units. You can remove the telescope from the mount with a quick release saddle plate.

As a result the Skypod is even more portable. You can store the mount and the telescope separately. For airline travelling you can take the optional VMC110L (or another compact telescope) along as carry-on luggage while the mount goes with the rest of your luggage.

Everything forms one integrated whole, you cannot forget anything.

The controller is integrated into the mount. You can take it off for remote control, but you can always put it back for save storage and transport. This means that for transport you can avoid all the separate small parts that are otherwise easily lost.

Skypod-Mount

Newly developed and sturdy alt-azimuth GoTo mount
Electrical slow motion control in both axes
Integrated Starbook S controller, can be taken out for cable-remote control
Internal battery compartment (batteries not included) or 12V external power supply possible
Telescope connection by Vixen-format dovetail saddle plate
Dimensions approx. 26 x 21 x 19.9cm
Weight: 4.2kgs
Table tripod included in the standard scope of delivery. An adjustable height aluminium tripod is also available optionally instead of the tabletop tripod

Starbook S Controller

Monochromatic LCD-display with background illumination
Uniquely easy to use, navigation by displayed star chart
10Base-T-LAN-port for software updates and external software control
Autoguider port available
Dimensions approx. 8.5 x 13 x 3.8 cm
Weight 170g

Useful Links

Polar Alignment Scope for
GP-E

A good quality dual axis drive for the GP-E

Further Information

GPE - Astrofoto - We took the GPE mount and upgraded it with a polar scope and an excellent dual axis drive. The result is a mount for astro-imaging including such features as PEC, micro-step mode, ...
Further Information

The GP-E is an excellent mount for beginners and advanced amateurs alike. It offers an excellent mechanical workmanship, high portability and excellent possibilities for upgrades.

The GP-E is at core identical to the popular GP mount, but it doesn't have the setting circles and illuminated polar scope. These parts can be bought later if you want to upgrade the GP-E.

Vixen's GP-E is very sturdy. You can put refractors up to 6" (150mm), Newtonians or Schmidt-Cassegrains up to 8" (200mm) onto the GP-E. This makes this mount particularly suitable for customers who want to get a sturdy mount from the beginning without the necessity to buy an altogether new mount for a possible larger, future telescope.

	RA Axis	DEC Axis
Outside diameter	52 mm	37mm to 75mm
Length	141mm	114.5mm
Material	Aluminium	Aluminium
Bearing	Friction bearing	Friction bearing
Worm wheel diameter / thickness	74mm / 6mm	74mm / 6mm
Worm gears material	Aluminium	Aluminium
Periodic Error	approx. 13"
Worm gear axis diameter / outside diameter	6mm / 11mm	6mm / 11mm
Worm gear material	Brass	Brass

Specifications:

The mount head weighs 3.9kgs. It carries telescopes up to approx. 8kgs (depending on the lever arm). Can be polar aligned from 0° to 90° latitude.

Item No.	Short description	Price - SEK incl. VAT
GP-E	Vixen GP-E mount with one counterweight. Including Vixen P-90 wooden tripod
DMD Astro5	Good dual axis motor drive with high quality motors (metal body, not plastic) incl. clutches for manual control. Further Information

Link to lots of additional accessories for astronomical mounts

GP-E Astrofoto

Many of today's cheap Chinese mounts are a strong competition for the practice-proven Vixen GP series. They combine much of a GP's stability with a very low price. But there is one thing in which nothing yet beats the original: Tracking precision. For astronomical imaging tracking precision is the key factor.

Based on this we have created a hybrid mount consisting of the excellent Vixen GP-E and a German-made astrophotographical motor drive, the MTS-3SLP.

Requirements which the GP-E Astrofoto meets:

Tripod	The Vixen wooden tripod P90 isn't a cheap Chinese tripod. It is light but sturdy (see left image). Adjustable in height: 60 - 90cm
Stability	Due to its precise make the GP-E offers the same stability which many other mounts of significantly heavier weight have to offer.
Worm gears	This is the main advantage of the Vixen GP-E mount. The tracking precision is better, resulting in better suitability for astro-imaging.
Motors	These aren't cheap motors with plastic gears. They have a metal body and a good tracking precision.
Motor drive	The excellent MTS3 controller is the heart of this mount. It offers many features which are very important for astro-imaging. More on the controller below.
Polar scope	Good quality screw-in polar scope. It uses Ursa Maior and Cassiopeia for alignment - no setting circles are needed.

Left image: the state of the art motor drive Powerflex MTS--3SLP

Top image: powerful motors with clutches for manual control

Motors and Controller:

This is the feature we put our emphasis on: The GP-E Astrofoto is equipped with a state of the art motor drive featuring the excellent MTS-3SLP controller and good quality stepper motors. This combination allows you to achieve excellent astrophotographical results even with long focal lengths.

Motors: good quality stepper motors with clutches for manual use. The motors have a very constant tracking speed and offer an excellent performance when paired with the SLP controller.

Controller: The Powerflex III SLP (made in Germany) offers several important features:
- Periodic Error Correction (PEC)
- customizable correcting speeds
- correction of the play in the DEC axis
- variable power supply 10-28V
- half step tracking mode for reduced vibrations

The Concept behind the GP-E Astrofoto is very simple: To offer a base for serious astro-imaging. Its combination of load capacity, tracking precision and an attractive price make this one of our most popular mounts for demanding astro-imagers. The controller even allows you to customize controls to suit your particular needs - aside from PEC and other features you can adjust the correcting speeds yourself.

The Load Capacity of this mount is very respectable, even for astro-imaging. Schmidt-Cassegrains up to 200mm (8") aperture or many Newtonians up to 200mm aperture will work well, as will refractors up to 130mm. For visual use you might even be able to put a bit more load onto this mount, but for visual observing extra stability is always a good thing.

The price is also very attractive, even compared to simple and less precise Chinese mounts. Astro-imaging makes high demands on both the mount and the electronic motor drive in terms of stability and tracking precision. Vixen mounts are known for their good tracking precision and stability, and the SLP controller (made in Germany) squeezes the best out of the mount. We recommend this mount without reservations for astro-imaging.

Item No.	Short description	Price - SEK incl. VAT
GP-E Astrofoto	GP-E mount with P90 tripod and 5kg counterweight. Motors with clutches for manual control in both axes motor drive controller MTS-3SLP (made in Germany) TS polar alignment scope	9250.-
	Further Information on the GP-E

Link to lots of additional accessories for astronomical mounts

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TS Polar alignment scope for GP-E

The polar alignment scope is screwed into the rear of the RA axis of the GP-E mount. It allows for easy and quick polar alignment.

The polar scope is very easy to use: Two arrows show the position of a particular star in Ursa Maior and Cassiopeia. Just move the RA axis of the mount until the orientation of the constellations within the polar scope and on the real sky are identical. Then just move Polaris into its marking in the polar scope and you have aligned the telescope.

Item No.	Short description	Price - SEK incl. VAT
Pol-GP	TS polar alignment scope for GP-E	735.-
Polbeleuchtung	Illuminating device for polar alignment scope - TS deluxe version made of machined aluminium	505.-

Vixen ED103mm on GP-D2. The GP-D2 as seen here is equipped with the HAL110 tripod.

The Vixen GP-D2 is Vixen's premium portable EQ mount for photographical use. It offers an ideal compromise between size, weight, and load bearing capacity. The mount is not larger than the GP from the outside, but can carry telescopes up to approx. 11kgs with very good stability.

The mount is of course very well suited for visual observers, but it is in particular meant for astrophotographers looking for a portable mount. The mount can be equipped with sophisticated dual axis motor drives and many other extras for all photographical and visual applications.

For photographical use the mount bears refractors up to 6" aperture, Schmidt-Cassegrains up to 9.25" or 8" Newtonians. Visually slightly larger telescopes will also be suitable.

	RA Axis	DEC Axis
Outside diameter	45 - 62 mm	35mm
Length	168mm	114.5mm
Material	Steel	Steel
Bearing	Friction bearing	Friction bearing
Worm wheel diameter / thickness	74mm / 6mm	74mm / 6mm
Worm gears material	Brass	Brass
Periodic Error	approx. +/- 10"
Worm gear axis diameter / outside diameter	6mm / 11mm	6mm / 11mm
Worm gear material	Brass	Brass
Setting circle resolution	10'	2°

The GP-D2 equatorial head weighs 8.5kgs. It carries telescopes up to approx. 11kgs (depending on the lever arm). Latitude can be adjusted from 0° to 90°.

Art. Nummer	Kurzbeschreibung	Price in SEK
GP-D2	Vixen GP-D2 equatorial head with two counterweights, polar alignment scope, integrated polar scope illuminator. Without tripod.	9125.-
DX Stativ	TS DX tripod for GP-D2.	1895.-

Link to lots of additional accessories for astronomical mounts

The Vixen Sphinx is a new advanced mount which incorporates several new ideas and offers excellent mechanics and an excellent GoTo drive.

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The Vixen VMC 200 on the Sphinx

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The Star Book GoTo controller. The large colour display makes this GoTo drive particularly easy to use.

The new Vixen SPHINX mount is the first mount in Vixen's range that was designed from the start as a GoTo mount - contrary to many mounts to which GoTo was added as a kind of afterthought. As a result eveything works smoothly, all motors and cables are integrated into the mount body and the mount is very easy to use, even for beginners.

No matter whether you are an experienced amateur, or a beginner, you will soon be able to observe a multitude of beautiful objects without bothering with the difficult process of finding them in the first place.

Features and Specifications of the Vixen SPHINX Mount

- Weight of the equatorial head 6.8kgs (standard version)

- load capacity: up to approx. 12kgs (Newtonians up to 8" aperture, lightweight Newtonians up to 10", Schmidt-Cassegrains up to 9.25", refractors up to 6"), depending on the lever arm

- GoTo drive. Large colour display. Servo motors, very quiet

- mechanical stability is comparable to the Vixen GP-DX

- 180-tooth precision worm wheels in RA and DEC

- latitude adjustable from 0° to 70° (coarse adjustment + fine adjustment for +/- 15°)

- azimuth fine adjustment integrated into the altitude block - the flat base allows you to use selfmade pillars.

- optional polar alignment scope PF-SX1 (System Atlux) with integrated circular level for exact polar alignment

- quick release device using the standard Vixen / Synta dovetail format

- retractable counterweight shaft for easy transport

- dimensions: 360mm x 360mm x 120mm

Features of the STAR BOOK - GoTo Controller of the Vixen SPHINX

- controller with integrated star chart. Just use the four control buttons to center the object of your choice and the mount will move the object into your eyepiece automatically

- large colour display - adjustable brightness - resolution 320x240 pixels - 4096 colours

- 22.725 object database including stars, Messier, NGC and IC objects

- manual slew speed depends on the zoom setting on the display

- even at high speeds the mount needs only 10 watts (12V DC)

- LAN-port for attaching the controller to a PC for updates

- fast 32 bit RISC processor

- AGA-1-/Skysensor-compatible autoguider port

- dimensions: 195mm x 145mm x 28mm

- weight: 400g

- integrated speaker

- the autoguider port is compatible to SBIG: http://www.sbig.com/pdffiles/TIC_Cable.pdf

Item No.	Short description	Price - SEK incl. VAT
SPHINX Feldversion	Vixen SPHINX equatorial head including Star Book GoTo controller and one counterweight. Without polar alignment scope, without tripod	16225.-
SPHINX Tischversion	Vixen SPHINX equatorial head including Star Book GoTo controller. Without counterweight shaft, without counterweight, without Declination locking screw. Without polar alignment scope, without tripod	14175.-
SPHINX HAL 110	Vixen tripod HAL-110 for Sphinx. Not compatible to GP / GP-DX	2690.-
SPHINX S750	Vixen SPHINX equatorial head like above, but including 750mm pedestal	19225.-

Link to lots of additional accessories for astronomical mounts

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Vixen New Atlux mount on the optional pedestal

The mount is shipped with the Skysensor 2000PC GoTo drive.

The New Atlux equatorial mount is the premium model in the Vixen product range. It is still quite portable (similar to EQ-6), yet has a very high load capacity. Several clever design features optimize its performance - the axes are very short for minimized vibrations and short lever arms.

The included Skysensor 2000PC GoTo controller rounds off this package. It turns the New Atlux into a modern GoTo capable mount that doesn't only offer state of the art mechanics, but also state of the art electronics.

The Vixen New Atlux carries Schmidt Cassegrains up to 11" aperture with photographical performance (visually up to 14"), Newtonians up to 14" (lightweight) and refractors up to 200mm, depending on the lever arm.

	RA Axis	DEC Axis
Outside diameter	50 mm	50mm
Material	Steel	Steel
Bearing	Roller / needle bearing	Roller / needle bearing
Worm wheel diameter	123mm	123mm
Worm gears material	Brass	Brass
Periodic Error	approx. +/- 3" with PEC
Worm gear axis diameter / outside diameter	15mm / 30mm	15mm / 30mm
Worm gear material	Brass	Brass

The equatorial head weighs 18kgs and has a load capacity of approx. 22kgs (conservative estimate) depending on the lever arm. Latitude can be adjusted from 0° to 70°.

Item No.	Short description	Price - SEK incl. VAT
New Atlux	Vixen New Atlux equatorial head with Skysensor 2000PC GoTo controller, illuminated polar scope, 2 counterweights Extra by TS: Quick release saddle plate, TS version, is included in the price.	48000.-
3662	Pedestal P70 for Vixen New Atlux - height approx. 70cm	7090.-
5603	Pedestal P110 for Vixen New Atlux - height approx. 110cm	7690.-
3661	Aluminium tube tripod for Vixen New Atlux	6690.-
TSDIV	Quick release device for Vixen New Atlux New - included with the New Atlux. Not available separately.	0.-

Link to lots of additional accessories for astronomical mounts