Shipping on this item will be quoted and billed separately. We will reach out to you to estimate a lead time and make shipping arrangements.

Overview

• 100 lb (45 kg) instrument capacity; 200lb (90 kg) maximum payload capacity (instruments+counterweights)
• Unibody mount design weighs 50 lb (23 kg)
• Maximum 7 arcseconds peak-to-peak error before correction
• Calibrated polar alignment adjustments
• Fourth-generation control system featuring USB 2.0 computer to mount interface
• Belt-driven gears with spring loaded worm to gear interface results in virtually zero backlash
• Ample space for additional through the mount cabling
• All standard electronics and through the mount wiring are housed inside the mount
• includes a versatile equipment mounting plate (a.k.a. the Vera-Plate) that accepts any telescope Two Port USB 2.0 hub on the Instrument Panel
• Power supply and PC to mount cabling included
• 30 arcsecond all sky pointing accuracy using TPoint telescope modeling software
• Clutchless design maintains the TPoint assisted pointing accuracy
• TheSkyX Pro with Add Ons feature ProTrack™, Direct Guide™ (guider-cable free autoguiding), Super Model™, All Sky Image Link™, Closed Loop Slews, and more!

Description

The Paramount MX has a broad range of exciting features and capabilities that will keep you focused on the stars and not your equipment.  Software Bisque urges you to compare the Paramount MX feature set with every other commercial mount in this price range before buying any mount.

Hardware

• German equatorial mount design.
• Instrument capacity (not including the counterweights): 100 lb (45 kg).  Maximum payload capacity (instruments plus counterweights): 200 lb (90 kg).  Additional counterweights may be required for heavier payloads.
• Weight of the mount (including the Versa-Plate): 50 lb (23 kg)
• Every Paramount MX component is custom machined from 6061 aluminum at Software Bisque's production facility.  The precision worms are machined from brass.
• Brass worms and aluminum gears that have a maximum seven (7) arcsecond peak-to-peak periodic error before periodic error correction. When periodic error correction is applied, the resulting peak-to-peak periodic error should be approximately one (1) arcsecond or less.
• Both the right ascension and declination axes have a simple three position mechanical "switch" to engage the worm during normal operation, disengage the worm from the gear when balancing the payload, or lock the axis during transit
• GEM design allows the right ascension axis to track past the meridian for up to 2 hours (time).
• All internal harnesses (cables) and motors are encapsulated inside the body of the mount, just like the Paramount ME. 
• Through the mount access holes allow you to add your own internal cables.
• Calibrated polar alignment adjustments that are virtually identical to the Paramount ME.
• Paramount ME-like homing, tracking and pointing performance.
• 7.5-inch right ascension and declination gears (375 teeth).
• 6-inch contact ball bearings in both right ascension and declination.
• Periodic error correction curve fitting included with TheSkyX Professional Edition.
• 45 arcminute bubble level included.
• A Paramount MX-style Versa-Plate for attaching optical tube assemblies is included.
• Power supply included.  Paramount MX power supply specifications: Max Power Output: 80W, Input: 100-240VAC ~47-63 Hz 1.9A, Output: 48V 1.66A max.
• Two (2) 20 lb (9kg) counterweights included.  Note that the Paramount MX and Paramount ME counterweights are identical.
• 16-in. (41 cm) counterweight shaft included.
• Standard Paramount MX wedge can be adjusted to reach latitudes from ten (10) degrees to slightly higher than sixty-five (65) degrees.  A Paramount ME-like Latitude Adjustment Wedge is available for latitudes outside this region.
• Azimuth axis polar axis adjustment range is plus or minus 3.5 degrees from center position (seven degrees total). 
• Altitude and azimuth polar alignment knobs are calibrated, so that making adjustments using the TPoint Polar Alignment Report simple and accurate.

Control System and Electronics

The Paramount MX includes the MKS 5000, Software Bisque's fourth generation dual axis telescope control system.

• Integrated USB 2.0 computer to mount communication interface can be controlled via TheSkyX Professional Edition on either Mac OS X and Windows (7/Vista/XP, 32- and 64-bit), out of the box.
• Integrated two port USB 2.0 hub at the camera-end of the telescope, right where USB ports are needed most.
• The position of the motors is monitored 3333 times each second to ensure optimal tracking accuracy and smooth, consistent slews at all rates and all times.
• Tracking and "in progress slews" are immediately stopped in the event the mount's payload encounters a fixed object, such as the side of the pier.
• The single board control system electronics requires the minimum number of components and has a small physical size.
• Hand controller features an integrated mini-joystick controller and configurable rate, a five position switch that allows single-handed mount control, an integrated bright red LED flashlight, sturdy "hang anywhere" cable loop and 15-foot coiled hand paddle to mount cable.

• Programmable periodic error correction with advanced adperiodic error curve fitting built into TheSkyX Professional Edition.
• Built-in autoguider port on the Instrument Panel.
• Built-in focuser port on the Instrument Panel.
• One 12V and one 5V power port on the Instrument Panel.
• An integrated through the mount generic "power source" port on the Instrument Panel backed with 18-gauge wire to supply power to your observing equipment.
• Configurable software limits (using TheSkyX Professional Edition) to ensure the mount does not encounter the pier.
• Brushless DC servomotors with all moving parts on bearing surfaces. If your mount is used for survey astronomy all night, every clear night, no other type of motor is sufficient. Other commercial mounts use "brushed motors" that don't have nearly the life expectancy of brushless DC servomotors and are not designed to be operated for long periods at the (relatively slow) sidereal rate.
• The maximum slew and tracking rate is six (6) degrees per second in both right ascension axis and declination (the default slew rate is 5.4 degrees per second)*. The gear-reducer and worm-block design of the Paramount MX are extremely efficient so that little power is lost between the motor and the telescope drive.

  *Maximum Slew Speed Disclaimer 
  
  The factory default of 80% maximum slew rate works well with most payloads over a wide range of temperatures. Paramount mounts can slew at the maximum slew rate with a balanced payload that is approximately 50% or less of the total rated capacity, when the spring plunger pressure adjusted to factory standards at moderate ambient temperatures. 
  
  As the mass of the payload increases, and/or the ambient temperature decreases, the mount may not be able to maintain maximum slew speeds. When near or above the stated capacity of the mount, or during cold temperature operation, slower maximum slew speeds and lower accelerations will be required.

• AutoHome™ homing capability (to better than one arcsecond resolution) with built-in sensor circuitry on each axis ensure that the mount always knows its orientation (after an initialization process called "homing"), even after power failure.
• Configurable park position.
• Audible feedback that indicates normal operation and error conditions.
• Slew and tracking rates can be configured with 56-bit precision. What does this mean? The right ascension and declination motors can be rotated a 0 to 4000 revolutions per minute and virtually anywhere in between, providing precise tracking and slewing. This gives you the ability to track on comets, asteroids and even fast- or slow-moving objects such as LEO satellites or any object that moves above or below the sidereal rate.
• Single-reduced belt-driven worms mean the Paramount MX has backlash so small it is difficult to measure (typically less than two arcseconds in both axes. Autoguiding calibration is always a snap with this “no-slop” system.  Spur gears and other components the may introduce backlash are not used.
• Temperature compensated internal oscillator with better than 10 parts per million that ensures accurate tracking rates over a wide temperature range.
• Built-in temperature sensor that allows the slew rate to be automatically reduced when the temperature drops.
• Soft "reboot" capability. This means that the control system can be restarted through software and does not have to be manually turned off, then on.

Note: Because of the size and value of these mounts, any additional shipping costs will be calculated and charged at time of shipping.

Please include a phone number and/or e-mail address when placing your order so that one of our equipment specialists can contact you about customization options for this mount.

Final shipping costs to be determined after checkout

Software

• The Paramount MX includes the Paramount MX Software Suite, developed by the same engineers who designed the mount.  Related blog post.

Specifications

For more information on construction, specifications, and accessories click here.

Optional Accessories

• Polar alignment scope for rapid alignment with the celestial pole.
• Pyramid Portable Pier (tripod) for the Paramount MX

• Pyramid Portable Pier

  • Total tripod weight: 20 lb (9 kg)
  • 360 degree azimuth adjustment
  • Convenient leveling adjustments 
• Paramount ME/MX Counterweight Shaft Extension Bar
• Paramount MX ScopeGuard Case
• Paramount ME/MX Counterweights Two 20-pound counterweights are included with the Paramount MX and can balance about 40-50 pounds of payload. Additional 10-pound counterweights may be required for heavier payloads..
• EGO Battery to Paramount Power Adaptor
• Software Bisque Paramount MX-compatible Permanent Piers

Documentation

• Paramount ME II and Paramount MX User Guide

• TheSkyX Professional Edition User Guide (this document includes documentation for the Camera Add On and Dome Add On)

• TPoint Add On User Guide

Technical Paramount MX Drawings

Please visit the Paramount MX Documentation page (Click Downloads > Documentation > Paramount MX) for the complete list of the Paramount MX-related technical drawings.