Tripods and Piers

More Information  · Images of Some Features Price $199.95 List Price $299.00 Weight 14 lbs. Warranty 1 year

The 10 lb. net weight #884 tripod has tubular chromed steel legs and is adjustable in height from 26" to 44" when used in the altazimuth mode. It has a built-in equatorial wedge with an integral latitude scale and no-tool latitude (altitude) adjustment for use at any observing latitude between 20° and 90°. The 90° (altazimuth) position is for terrestrial observation and for quick set-up astronomical observing. Setting the wedge at your observing latitude and aligning the scope on the celestial pole allows more accurate object location and equatorial (polar) mode sidereal rate tracking, but takes more time to set up and align than the scopes’ default altazimuth observing mode.

Each ETX attaches to the tripod in seconds using two no-tool knobs in the wedge tilt plate. The knobs are tethered and spring-loaded so they can’t be lost in the field. The spreader bar that locks the legs open is spring-loaded as well, so setting up and taking down the tripod takes only a few seconds. There are six 1.25" diameter holes cut into the spreader bar to hold 1.25" eyepieces. The tripod comes with a padded Cordura-style carrying case with carry handle, shoulder strap, and an external zippered pocket for the spreader bar.