More about the series StarSeeker...
The StarSeeker IV GoTo Telescope presents a winning combination of motorized object-location technology and great optical performance at an unbelievably low price. This smart GoTo telescope will lead you and your family on a guided tour of the stars on any clear night.
This high-quality Maksutov telescope provides an ideal basis for both planetary and DSO observing.
Its diameter makes it a 'fast' yet portable instrument. The Maksutov-Cassegrain system allows a long focal length to be combined with a relatively short OTA length. The central obstruction in the optics is minimal as the small secondary mirror has been directly vacuum deposited onto the meniscus lens. The meniscus lens gives very good contrast - for example ideal for planetary observing. The lens corrects for spherical aberration and its shape reduces chromatic aberration to a minimum. It comes supplied with a mounting plate.
The StarSeeker IV mount - as indicated by the version number, this is a further development of this tried-and-tested single-arm mount. Your telescope can be straightforwardly attached via the prism rail (Vixen-Style) and secured using a single lock-screw. Observing can start immediately after running through a short procedure where the computer learns how the mount is oriented with respect to the night sky ('2 Star Alignment'). Then simply select any object you would like to observe from among the huge database available in the hand control box. The telescope will then slew to this object and hold it centred in the eyepiece. The object would constantly move out of the field of view, due to the rotation of the Earth, without this motorized tracking - but not with the StarSeeker IV mount!
But best of all is that the mount is equipped with encoders on both axes! This means that, even after the computer has been set up, you can move where the telescope points to manually without the computer losing its orientation. This is particularly useful if you want to manually point the telescope at a completely different part of the night sky - this is silent and saves on battery life. Simply move the telescope by hand to roughly the correct part of the night sky and then let the GoTo computer find the exact position.
Thanks to the mount's design, you have full freedom of movement - 360° in horizontal rotation and 90° in height (zenith), without the optics fouling the mount! The StarSeeker version IV comes with a sturdy steel tube tripod. This is a real advantage as compared to the aluminium tripod provided with this mount's predecessor.
This single-arm mount is suitable for smaller OTAs weighing up to 6kg. It is very portable, quick to set up and easy to operate. It is hence ideal for casual observers who do not want to spend a lot of time organizing and assembling their equipment.
The motorized tracking also makes this mount a good platform for astrophotography of bright astronomical objects - especially the Moon and planets.
It not only matters which telescope you buy but also where you buy it. Our additional services:
- We are a leading telescope dealer and know the devices we sell. Our customer service team will gladly help you after your purchase if you have problems with assembly or operation.
- We provide a copy of the 80-page Telescope ABC beginners handbook with every telescope.