Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro Equatorial Mount With Pier Tripod S30601

110 Pound Payload

Belt Driven on Both Axes

Integrated Cable Management System

Heavy Duty Pier Tripod

The Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro brings observatory class performance to the amateur astronomer.  

Building on the legacy of Sky-Watcher’s popular EQ8 mount, the EQ8-R introduces a variety of upgrades and enhancements that make observatory-class astrophotography easier than ever. Whisper-quiet dual belt drives greatly reduce Periodic Error while providing enhanced tracking and guiding. The fully realized cable management system eliminates cable drag and makes remote set-ups ridiculously convenient.

The EQ8 has an optional polar finder to help make alignment just that much more precise.  Once aligned and tracking the dual axes belt drives provide minimal backlash as well as significantly reduces periodic error.  

The built-in cable management system helps keep you clutter free as well as worry free from the annoying cable snags.  The system consists of four USB 3.0 ports, three 2.1mm power ports and three serial connections.  

The best part about this mount is the weight.  Not just the physical weight, but how much weight it will hold.  The mount has a payload capability of 110 pounds!  It should hold virtually any tube you own with ease.  Usually when you hear a high payload number you start to think about how much the mount actually weighs and if you want to even take it out.  Sky-Watcher has done a great job in weight distribution.  The head weighs only 56.8 pounds, tripod/pier comes in at 64.8 pounds, and the mount comes standard with two 22 pound counterweights.  It is a portable mount that is ready to take on virtually any size tube you can come up with.