Mark III is a lightweight and portable German equatorial mount with a delicate harmonic gear system. Despite its lightweight of 7.95kg, Mark III boasts outstanding payload capacity, quick dynamic response and accurate data-transmission and processing. It’s a great option for astro-observation or astrophotography, and a handy and functional helper along your journey to the universe exploration.
Mark III is a lightweight and portable German equatorial mount with a delicate harmonic gear system. Despite its lightweight of 7.95kg, Mark III boasts outstanding payload capacity, quick dynamic response and accurate data-transmission and processing. It’s a great option for astro-observation or astrophotography, and a handy and functional helper along your journey to the universe exploration.
Please be sure to read the Instruction Manual of Mark III before using the mount, and strictly follow the steps illustrated in it.
Mark III equatorial mount is powered by Onstep, a fantastic open source software. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the developers and all relevant contributors who have helped a lot to improve the Onstep software. We will also do our best to make possible improvements and modifications to Onstep based on the practical operations to make this software and thus our equatorial mount perform more smoothly.
OnStep is open source free software, licensed under the GPL:LICENSE.txt.
Specifications
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MARK III Harmonic German Equatorial Mount Specification |
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Weight of the main body (without counterweight and counterweight bar ) |
7.65KG |
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Weight of special carbon fiber tripod (with extension tube) |
4.95KG |
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Total weight (without counterweight and counterweight bar) |
12.6KG |
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Counterweight and counterweight bar |
A standard 5KG counterweight and a counterweight bar (304 stainless steel |
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Dovetail saddle |
Standard 200mm Losmandy & Vixen style dovetail saddle |
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Dimension |
The diameter of the main body’s base is 160mm, the maximum height of the main body is 38cm, and the maximum width is 30cm |
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Dimension of tripod (including a one-stage extension tube) |
82cm of height and 98cm of width when expanded, 93cm of height when retracted，The above data includes the extension tube. |
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Level adjustment of tripod (with a high level bubble) |
Height adjustment within 2.5cm, with fine-tuning and locking system |
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Latitude adjustment range |
15-90°（90° is the motorized Alt-Azimuth mode）。 |
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North pointing horizontal azimuth adjustment range |
±4° |
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Effective payload |
≤22kg (without counterweight) |
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Reduction/Gear Ratio |
R.A. axis 1: 1000 |
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PE Cycle Error |
<±20” |
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PE Cycle Time |
432 seconds |
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Slew speed（GOTO speed） |
Maximum slew speed: 4 deg/s |
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Guide speed |
2x，4x，8x，20x，48x，120x，180x，240x，360x，480x，710x，950x |
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Harmonic reducer type |
20mm 1:100 Harmonic reducer |
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Motor |
42mm 1:10 precision stepping motor with automatic braking system (used in power-off situations) |
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Power enter (with a standard 24V power adapter and 12V to 24V power adapter) |
24V stable power supply |
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Operating current |
950mA |
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Standby current |
475mA |
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Data transmission |
Support WiFi wireless connection and USB wired connectio |
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Guiding Port |
Through USB connectio |
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Hand controller |
CNC processing control box with built-in celestial database |
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Compatibility |
MARK III is perfectly compatible with ASCOM & INDI platforms, various commonly-used astronomy software, mobile phone apps, ASIAIR, star atlas software, etc., the mount can be controlled via smartphones/laptops/tablets etc. through WIFI or USB connection |
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Star alignment |
Supports up to 9-star alignment |
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Home sensor style |
Electrical zero position |
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Working temperature |
-25℃-40℃ |
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Polar alignment scope port |
Built-in electronic polar alignment scope port with quick-release syste |
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PHD2 guiding test |
±0.5” |
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Note: the specifications are subject to change without notice and all rights are reserved. |
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Unpacking diagram diagram
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Number |
Number | Note | |
| 1 | Hand controller | To control and operate Mark Ill equatoria mount | |
| 2 | Boost converter | 12-24V boost converterx1 | |
| 3 | Tool packager | Thumb screw for fixing the mount on the tripodx2; M1.3 Allerwrenchx1; altitude adjustment barx1; M5 Allen wrenchx1 | |
| 4 | Power package | 24V power adapterx1; power cablex1 | |
| 5 | Counterweight bar | With a thread at the bottom | |
| 6 | Main body | Number | |
| 7 | Counterweight | To balance the mount | |