Track The Stars TTS-160 Panther Alt-Az Mount Head with Top Mount Arms & Pier Adapter
Availability: Item has been discontinued by the manufacturer
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Panther Alt-Az Mount Head
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, long exposure astrophotography, and several telescopes in parallel or ultra-compact travel setups.
Alt-Az telescope mount for stability, compactness and fast setup
Professional astronomers have known for years that the most compact and stable telescope mount is the ALT-AZ configuration. Now it’s available for you too. The benefit is a mount that’s stable, very compact and easy to transport, and very fast to set up. Fits in just one compact transport bag.
Precise go-to and tracking
The TTS-160 Panther Mount can automatically go to any objects selected from the Handpad or a connected PC, Ipad, iPhone, etc. Precise tracking for astrophotography with autoguiding capabilities. The TTS-160 is not a strain-wave/harmonic drive mount. The Azimuth gear is a combination of a roller/friction gear and a worm gear. The Altitude gear is a worm gear.
Perfect eyepiece position, no meridian flip
The Alt-Az movement pattern of the telescope mount ensures the eyepiece is always at 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 access it and you avoid cables being twisted unnecessarily. Finally keeping the optical tube assembly at the same angle minimizes the risk of destroying good collimation of the optics by turning them upside down.
Simplicity on the outside, the technology inside
All the technology and delicate working parts are sealed inside smooth anodized aluminium 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 handpad 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. The goto function lets you track any object in the extensive object catalogue.
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 TTS-160 Panther Mount has a connector for 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 it is necessary to have a drive system with low and very smooth periodic error. Most high-quality German equatorial mountings on the market try to solve this problem with large-diameter worm gear drives. This 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.
NEXUS II Wifi solution adapted for TTS mounts
The NEXUS II box is placed on a magnetic holder on the counterweight arm. One short cable connects it to the mount head. The placement and the quality of this adapter give you a very stable Wi-Fi connection with a good range. With this solution, you can control the mount from your iPhone, Android or Tablet using the Sky Safari App. Just click on the star map to have the mount go to the selected target. The mount handpad can be used simultaneously to slew the mount or make gotos.
Top Mount & Arms
An adjustable clutch on the altitude axle
The Top Mount easily installs on the mount head via two conical brass bushings inserted into the ends of the altitude axle. The two lock handles work as clutches that can be released completely when balancing the telescope and lock completely when only running the mount via the motors. If you wish, the clutches can be set so that the mount can be moved manually and still stays in position.
Dual size dovetail saddle – Vixen & Losmandy size
The top dovetail saddle takes either 3 inches wide (Losmandy style) or Vixen size plates and locks securely onto the dovetail bar via two brass cylinders. The finger screws are small and compact, designed to give the necessary force on the dovetail bar without taking up to much space.
Magnetic handpad holder
On each side of the Top Mount is a magnetic holder for the handpad. Additional magnetic holders can be delivered if you want to place the handpad elsewhere on the telescope.
Adjustable counterweight slots
The counterweight slots on each side can receive 2 counterweights.
Pier Adapter
Extremely fast and easy setup
The quick lock Pier Adapter attaches the mount head to the pier in a matter of seconds with the flick of a finger.
Installation on the mount head
The Pier Adapter is installed on the mount head and stays there. It matches the TTS-160 Panther mount head but can also be installed on German equatorial mounts to be used with the TTS-160 Folding Pier. Contact us for details.
Installation on Pier extensions
The Pier Adapter is also used on pier extension tubes. This allows for the same fast assembly of the Pier.
Specifications
Panther Mount Head
- Weight: 12 kg
- Materials: Aluminum, black hard anodized
- 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 (0.14 arcsec step size)
- Power Supply Needed: 12V 3A battery
- Slewing Speed: 3 degrees per second
- Telescopic Capacity:22 kg on Topmount / 2 * 15 kg on side mount dovetail saddles – depending on telescope length and weight distribution
- Imaging Capacity: 22 kg (44 lbs)
- Objects 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)
Top Mount and Arms
- Weight: 5 kg
- Materials: Brass bushings, Stainless Steel and Aluminum, black hard anodized
- Dovetail Size: 3 inch Losmandy Style (Width: 76.2mm, Angle 60 degrees)
Pier Adapter
- Weight: 1kg
- Materials: Aluminum, anodized natural
| Product Banner Type | discontinued |
|---|---|
| Free Shipping Graphic | Free Contiguous US Shipping |
| Hide Found a better Shipped Price on Frontend? | No |
Panther Mount Head
- 1x Mount head
- 1x Handpad
- 1x Handpad cable
- 1x PC connection cable
- 1x Power cable with cigarette lighter connector
- 1x Large transport bag for mount head
- 1x Small transport bag for handpad
- 1x NEXUS-II wifi adapter with magnetic adapter
- 1x Charging and connection cables for NEXUS-II
Top Mount and Arms
- x Dovetail Saddle plate with counterweight arms
- 2x Magnetic handpad holders (installed on arms)
- 2x Brass bushings
- 2x M8x60 Stainless steel screws
Pier Adapter
- 1x Pier adapter
- 1x Screw for installation on mount head or Pier extension
NOTE: Power supply is not included
Panther Alt-Az Mount Head
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, long exposure astrophotography, and several telescopes in parallel or ultra-compact travel setups.
Alt-Az telescope mount for stability, compactness and fast setup
Professional astronomers have known for years that the most compact and stable telescope mount is the ALT-AZ configuration. Now it’s available for you too. The benefit is a mount that’s stable, very compact and easy to transport, and very fast to set up. Fits in just one compact transport bag.
Precise go-to and tracking
The TTS-160 Panther Mount can automatically go to any objects selected from the Handpad or a connected PC, Ipad, iPhone, etc. Precise tracking for astrophotography with autoguiding capabilities. The TTS-160 is not a strain-wave/harmonic drive mount. The Azimuth gear is a combination of a roller/friction gear and a worm gear. The Altitude gear is a worm gear.
Perfect eyepiece position, no meridian flip
The Alt-Az movement pattern of the telescope mount ensures the eyepiece is always at 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 access it and you avoid cables being twisted unnecessarily. Finally keeping the optical tube assembly at the same angle minimizes the risk of destroying good collimation of the optics by turning them upside down.
Simplicity on the outside, the technology inside
All the technology and delicate working parts are sealed inside smooth anodized aluminium 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 handpad 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. The goto function lets you track any object in the extensive object catalogue.
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 TTS-160 Panther Mount has a connector for 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 it is necessary to have a drive system with low and very smooth periodic error. Most high-quality German equatorial mountings on the market try to solve this problem with large-diameter worm gear drives. This 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.
NEXUS II Wifi solution adapted for TTS mounts
The NEXUS II box is placed on a magnetic holder on the counterweight arm. One short cable connects it to the mount head. The placement and the quality of this adapter give you a very stable Wi-Fi connection with a good range. With this solution, you can control the mount from your iPhone, Android or Tablet using the Sky Safari App. Just click on the star map to have the mount go to the selected target. The mount handpad can be used simultaneously to slew the mount or make gotos.
Top Mount & Arms
An adjustable clutch on the altitude axle
The Top Mount easily installs on the mount head via two conical brass bushings inserted into the ends of the altitude axle. The two lock handles work as clutches that can be released completely when balancing the telescope and lock completely when only running the mount via the motors. If you wish, the clutches can be set so that the mount can be moved manually and still stays in position.
Dual size dovetail saddle – Vixen & Losmandy size
The top dovetail saddle takes either 3 inches wide (Losmandy style) or Vixen size plates and locks securely onto the dovetail bar via two brass cylinders. The finger screws are small and compact, designed to give the necessary force on the dovetail bar without taking up to much space.
Magnetic handpad holder
On each side of the Top Mount is a magnetic holder for the handpad. Additional magnetic holders can be delivered if you want to place the handpad elsewhere on the telescope.
Adjustable counterweight slots
The counterweight slots on each side can receive 2 counterweights.
Pier Adapter
Extremely fast and easy setup
The quick lock Pier Adapter attaches the mount head to the pier in a matter of seconds with the flick of a finger.
Installation on the mount head
The Pier Adapter is installed on the mount head and stays there. It matches the TTS-160 Panther mount head but can also be installed on German equatorial mounts to be used with the TTS-160 Folding Pier. Contact us for details.
Installation on Pier extensions
The Pier Adapter is also used on pier extension tubes. This allows for the same fast assembly of the Pier.
Specifications
Panther Mount Head
- Weight: 12 kg
- Materials: Aluminum, black hard anodized
- 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 (0.14 arcsec step size)
- Power Supply Needed: 12V 3A battery
- Slewing Speed: 3 degrees per second
- Telescopic Capacity:22 kg on Topmount / 2 * 15 kg on side mount dovetail saddles – depending on telescope length and weight distribution
- Imaging Capacity: 22 kg (44 lbs)
- Objects 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)
Top Mount and Arms
- Weight: 5 kg
- Materials: Brass bushings, Stainless Steel and Aluminum, black hard anodized
- Dovetail Size: 3 inch Losmandy Style (Width: 76.2mm, Angle 60 degrees)
Pier Adapter
- Weight: 1kg
- Materials: Aluminum, anodized natural
| Product Banner Type | discontinued |
|---|---|
| Free Shipping Graphic | Free Contiguous US Shipping |
| Hide Found a better Shipped Price on Frontend? | No |
Panther Mount Head
- 1x Mount head
- 1x Handpad
- 1x Handpad cable
- 1x PC connection cable
- 1x Power cable with cigarette lighter connector
- 1x Large transport bag for mount head
- 1x Small transport bag for handpad
- 1x NEXUS-II wifi adapter with magnetic adapter
- 1x Charging and connection cables for NEXUS-II
Top Mount and Arms
- x Dovetail Saddle plate with counterweight arms
- 2x Magnetic handpad holders (installed on arms)
- 2x Brass bushings
- 2x M8x60 Stainless steel screws
Pier Adapter
- 1x Pier adapter
- 1x Screw for installation on mount head or Pier extension
NOTE: Power supply is not included