This package contains everything needed for a visual set-up:
Mount head with handpad
Top Mount with counterweight arms
2 x 4 kg Counterweights
Folding Pier
Pier Adapter
Heavy package is the same except it comes with 2 x 8 kg Counterweights instead of 4kg.
TTS-160 Panther Astrophoto Package
This package contains everything needed for a high quality astrophoto mount:
Mount head with handpad
Top Mount with counterweight arms
2 x 8 kg Counterweights
Telescope rOTAtor
Folding Pier
Pier Adapter
Configurable telescope mount system
The TTS-160 Panther telescope mount head is the heart of the highly flexible and configurable mount system. It’s possible to configure mount set-ups for visual observations, for long exposure astrophotography, several telescopes in parallel or ultra compact travel set-up.
The professional astronomers has known for years that the most compact and stable telescope mount is the ALT-AZ configuration. Now it’s available for you too. The benefits is a mount that’s stable, very compact and easy to transport, and very fast to setup. Fits in just one compact transport bag.
Precise goto and tracking
The mount can automatically goto any objects selected from the handpad or a connected PC, Ipad, Iphone, etc. Precise tracking for astrophotography with autoguiding capabilities.
Perfect eyepiece position, no meridian flip
The Alt-Az movement pattern of the telescope mount ensures the eyepiece is always in a perfect viewing angle. This is especially important when using Bino Viewers. The mount never needs to perform a meridian flip (unlike German Equatorial Mounts). Therefore all your installed equipment (finders, guide scopes, cameras, filter wheels …) always stays in the best position where you can easily acces it and you avoid cables being twisted unnecessarily. Finally keeping the optical tube assembly in the same angle minimizes the risk of destroying a good collimation of the optics by turning them upside down.
Simplicity on the outside, technology inside
All the technology and delicate working parts are sealed inside smooth anodized aluminum cylinders, so dirt, dust and moisture stay out. The streamlined, compact design also protects the mount from damage during transport or storage.
Convenient hand pad and intuitive user interface
enable easy operation – even with your gloves on! – The hand pad is specially designed to ensure simple operation. No need to search for the right button. Roller knobs make it possible to navigate through the interface quickly. Goto function lets you track any object in the extensive object catalog.
Interface connectors
You can connect a PC via the ASCOM (LX200) compatible connector to control the mount with any astronomy software supporting the ASCOM standard. Autoguiders can be connected through the dedicated ST4 standard connector. Finally the mount has a connector the the control of the optional telescope rOTAtor and a connector for the handpad.
Exact Drive – high precision tracking in a compact design
To be able to track the sky very precisely over long periods of time it is necessary to have a drive system with low and very smooth periodic error. Most high quality German equatorial mountings on the market tries to solve this problem with large diameter worm gear drives. These large diameter worm gear results in mountings that are large and heavy. For the TTS-160 Panther Az-drive we have created a drive system we call “Exact Drive”. A unique combination of a worm gear and a roller drive ensures optimal tracking performance – with lower periodic error values and no sudden changes in tracking speed. And, unlike other worm-gear drives, the TTS-160 is lighter and easier to carry.
TTS-160 Panther Specifications
Type
Alt-Az mount with Equatorial tracking
Weight Mount Head (with topmount and arms)
16 kg
Materials
Black Anodized Aluminium Stainless Steel
Azimuth Drive
Ø100mm bronze worm gear drive combined with second stage friction roller gear. Springloaded worm assembly for zero backlash
Altitude Drive
Ø120mm bronze worm gear drive. Springloaded worm assembly for zero backlash
Drive Motors
DC servomotors with high resolution encoders (0.10arcsec step size)
Power Supply Needed
12V 3A battery
Slewing Speed
3 degrees per second
Telescope Dovetail
Top Mount has Dual Vixen/Losmandy Dovetail saddle. Additional Vixen size dovetail saddles can be installed on side arms.
Telescope Capacity
22 kg on Topmount / 2 * 15 kg on side mount dovetail saddles – depending on telescope length and weight distribution
Object Catalogs Installed
Planets, Messier Catalog, NGC Catalog, IC catalog, Bright Star Catalog
PC Interface
LX200/ASCOM Interface. Works with all major planetarium and telescope control software packages.
Autoguider Port
ST4 compatible port
Firmware
The internal firmware is stored inside the mount head and can be updated by the user via the PC interface.
Transport Bag size
Diameter 180mm (7inch), Length 600mm (24 inch)
Specifications
Specifications are subject to change without notice