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Mountings & accessories > Mountings > Camera Mounts > AstroTrac > AstroTrac TT320X-AG mount set I
Product no.: 18839

TT320X-AG mount set I

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Product description

This mounting set was compiled by our experts especially for you. It consists of the following articles:

AstroTrac TT320-AG mounting

Super Accurate Unguided Tracking

The phenomenal unguided tracking accuracy of the TT320X-AG has to be seen to be believed. You can easily capture pin sharp stars at 200 mm or more focal length.

Most DSLR camera exposures are around 5 minutes or less. The TT320X-AG has typical unguided tracking error of around 5 arcseconds peak-to-peak or better over a 5 minute period.

Your TT320X-AG unit is individually calibrated at AstroTac's factory, so the tracking rate is exactly right. You don't need to waste time measuring and adjusting the tracking rate to make sure its running at just the right speed to prevent your images trailing.

Ultra Portable

The TT320X-AG is remarkably compact - its roughly as long and as wide as your forearm. Put it in your suitcase or your computer bag and take it with you whenever you travel.

The ultra portable TT320X-AG weighs only 1 kg (2.2 lb). Despite its minimal weight, the TT320X-AG can easily carry 15 kg (33 lb) of cameras, lenses and telescopes. And you don't need to worry about lumping large power supplies with you either. The TT320X-AG draws minimal power, so you get around 10 hours tracking from a set of 8 AA cells. AA cells also have the advantage of being available just about anywhere in the world.

Patent Pending Technology

The TT320X-AG is engineered to strict tolerances to give you optimum tracking accuracy and the reliability needed for years of use.

All units are assembled at the Bristol UK based AstroTrac factory for optimum control over quality.

The majority of components are made from aerospace grade 6082 T6 aluminium for strength and light weight.

All nuts, screws and hardware are made from corrosion resistant stainless steel.

The printed circuit boards are robotically manufactured in the UK to the highest standards using environmentally friendly processes. The TT320X-AG uses two high performance microprocessors running at 20 and 16 million instructions per second.

At the heart of the TT320X-AG is the precision motor and screw assembly which is manufactured in the US to AstroTrac's rigorous specification. The screw is an integral part of the motor to minimise periodic error.

The new version of the TT320X-AG from AstroTrac is distinguished from the previous TT320 model by the following technical innovations and improvements:

  • additional tracking speeds for the Sun and Moon, rather than just for stars. The tracking speed can now also be set to Solar or Lunar tracking by simply pressing a key when switching on. This opens up two completely new areas of application, i.e. for visual and photographic observing with short focal length refractors (e.g. for earthshine, narrow crescent moon, sun spots).

  • autoguider port! - allowing you to control your AstroTrac mount via autoguider. Accurate tracking of objects is made easy even at long focal lengths and long exposures. The ST-4 compatible port works with most of the common autoguiders such as the Mammut Lyuba CCD camera (21883) or the Orion StarShoot autoguider (14248).

  • a completely redesigned drive system with improved tracking accuracy (even without autoguiding) AstroTrac now guarantees an accuracy of 5 arcseconds (peak to peak) over a period of 5 minutes. This also allows the photographic use of longer focal lengths for deep sky photography.

  • ultra-portable: The AstroTrac weighs only 1kg! No heavier than a carton of milk, but similarly easy to transport. The skeleton construction means significant weight saving as compared to previous versions.

  • a significant increase in the instrument payload. The carrying capacity of the TT320 was10kg, the new TT320X-AG can now carry a full 15kg (maximum, short design) instrument payload.

  • extended polar finder arm for significantly easier polar alignment.

AstroTrac polar scope

Using a very accurate mount like the AstroTrac TT320X isn't a guarantee in itself that your shots will be perfectly tracked.
You need to ensure that your mount is correctly aligned with the sky, or ‘polar aligned’, to unleash its full potential. The AstroTrac polar scope makes polar alignment a quick and easy process.
The polar scope’s precision glass reticule is marked for alignment with stars in the northern and southern hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, the polar scope is aligned on Polaris and an optional additional two stars. In the southern hemisphere, the polar scope is aligned on Epsilon Hydri and an optional additional two stars in Octans - Sigma and Chi Octantis. The TT320X Instruction Manual gives full details of the polar alignment procedure.
There's nothing more annoying than trying to aim a red torch at precisely the right angle down the polar scope tube without blinding yourself with red light. The built in illuminator shines red light onto the reticle markings helping you get polar aligned quickly and easily.
The red LED is powered by two small LR41 buttons cells ensuring there are no wires to snag in the dark.
The TT320X’s unique fold away polar scope arm enables you to position the polar scope clear of your equipment with sight of the alignment stars in the sky.
For accurate polar alignment, the polar scope needs to be held parallel to the axis of rotation of the TT320X. The AstroTrac polar scope is secured flush with the polar arm by powerful magnets ensuring perfect alignment and ease of rotation.

The accuracy of your polar alignment depends on the following factors:

  • Focal length of your lens or telescope
  • Camera exposure time
  • Position of your target in the sky


If you are shooting large, relatively bright objects, such as the Milky Way, aurorae of constellations, you don't need to polar align as precisely as you do for smaller, dimmer targets, which you would shoot with a telephoto lenses or a telescope.


There are two options available to you for polar alignment during the day when its too bright to use stars:

  • Align the night before with the polar scope,
  • or, use a compass and latitude scale to polar align during the day


Your AstroTrac needs to be pointing true north. Hold your compass square against the AstroTrac and adjust in azimuth until the compass needle indicates magnetic north. Don't forget to allow for magnetic variation by adjusting your compass bezel first. You can find the correction on most maps or by searching on the Internet.

You also need to have your AstroTrac angled so that the angle it makes with the horizontal corresponds to your latitude. For example - if you are at a latitude of 52 °, the TT320X will need to be angled at 52° to the horizontal.
Provided your tripod is level, you can use the latitude scale on your tripod head or alternatively you can use a plumb line and protractor held against the underside of the TT320X.

Specifications

Capacity


Designation
TT320X-AG
Max. additional load capacity (kg)
15
Polar elevation setting (°)
-
Motor speeds
-
Precision of tracking
5
Axle bearings
Taper roller bearings
Counterweight(s) (piece)
- (Optional)
Interfaces
Autoguider, jack (external power supply)
Cable-guide
-
Operating temperature
-
Power supply
12
Power consumption in open circuit (mA)
-
Position precision
-
Worm gear teeth (RA) (piece)
-
Diameter of counterweight bar (mm)
-
Connection manual controller
-

Special features


Polar axis scale
-
Graduated circles
-
Fitting for prism rail
-
Manual tracking
-
Accessory tray
-

Equipment


Tripod <p>
without tripod

Tripod


Stand column
-
Max. tripod height (cm)
-
Tripod weight (kg)
-
Tripod material
- (Tripod optionally available)

General


Colour
silver
Length (mm)
425
Width (mm)
95
Height (mm)
43
Total weight (kg)
1,1
AstroTrac TT320X-AG mount set I
Closeup of the Rosette Nebula, taken with a TT320X-AG, Canon 7D and EF 400 mm f5.6 L lens. Stack of 5 minute exposures. (c) Gain Lee, Huddersfield, Great Britain.
AstroTrac TT320X-AG mount set I
Closeup of the Horsehead & Flame Nebulae, taken with TT320X-AG, QSI 583WSG CCD camera and Takahashi FS-78 refractor at f8.1. Stack of LRGB 5 minute exposures. (c) Richard Taylor & Gain Lee.

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