The SkyWatcher HEQ-5 Pro is recommended for those looking for a heavy-duty, yet portable and useful mount for more serious astrophotography tasks. Based on its power handling, we recommend it for up to 20 cm Newtonian telescopes, 23.5 cm SC/MC systems and 15 cm refracting telescopes!
The 4.5 cm thick steel feet and the considerable size of the mount provide excellent stability. Thanks to the ball bearing shafts, the periodic error is also very low, which can be almost completely eliminated by guiding through the built-in autoguide port. Astrophotographers will appreciate the very fine corrections (up to 0.25x stellar speed) that can be made, as well as the possibility of a teachable periodic error correction (PEC)
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The mount can be purchased with a SynScan handheld controller, which has an LCD display and a database of over 42 900 objects, any of which can be accessed with the touch of a few buttons. It also supports communication with a computer via a simple USB connection, making it possible to control the mount from a standard PC. Instead of a SynScan handheld controller, the mount can be equipped with a wifi module, allowing you to operate the device with an Android or IOS mobile phone.
The accuracy of the pole alignment is enhanced by the illuminated fibre-plate pole finder. The basic package includes a cable with a cigarette lighter adapter to operate the mount from a car cigarette lighter. A battery-powered solution is recommended, but operation from a 220V mains supply is also possible with an optional 2A or 5A mains adapter.
The quality of driving can be further enhanced by the installation of a ribbed belt drive, either as an afterthought or at the time of purchase.
