Do I need to polar align my telescope?

Polar alignment is an essential first step towards a night of visual observation or astrophotography. Why is it so important? By aligning the axis of your telescope mount with the motion of the sky, you can accurately track objects in space.

What is the best telescope for deep space viewing?

Best telescopes for deep space

Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope.
Meade Polaris 90mm German Equatorial Refractor Telescope.
Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ Reflector Telescope.
Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope.
Celestron NexStar 127SLT Computerized Telescope.

How big is the EQ2 equatorial telescope mount?

The EQ2 mount (#9828) came with my 130ST reflector telescope. Given the list price for the set, you might say that this mount was almost a freebie, so I’ll keep that in mind, herein. The EQ2 weighs in at 14 pounds, without the counter weight, so it’s easy to carry. One tube ring comes with a ¼-20 thread for camera mounting – a nice extra.

Is the Orion 9011 eq-1 equatorial telescope mount good?

The EQ mount makes a couple of hours out with the scope a much more fun, relaxing and enjoyable experience. -I’ve seen some complaints about shaking problems. Sure, it does shake some when you adjust the RA or Dec, or fine-tune the focus, but if you have it on a solid, vibration-free surface it settles down very quickly.

Can a motor drive be attached to an equatorial telescope?

If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Which is better an altazimuth or an equatorial telescope?

The equatorial axis is known as right ascension, while the perpendicular axis is called declination. The right ascension axis (RA), rotates in one revolution every (approximately) 24 hours. The mechanical design of an equatorial mount is better suited for astrophotography than an altazimuth mount (alt-az).