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More Information  · Recommended Accessories  · Images of Some Features Price $7,494.95 Weight 75 lbs. Warranty 5 years

• Built-in Temma-2M dual-axis 12 VDC drive/drive corrector
• Drive corrector converts to go-to computer by adding a PC or hand control
• 45 pound maximum payload capacity, 35 pound optimal
• Very low periodic error of only +/-5 arc seconds
• Built-in illuminated polar finder scope
• 700x sidereal rate slewing
• Fixed height tripod

The Takahashi EM-200 USD III mount, Temma-2M dual-axis drive/drive corrector, and SE-L tripod combination offers the amateur astronomer a high precision German equatorial mount that is ideal for serious long exposure astrophotography.

• Payload capacity: The EM-200 USD (Ultra Speed Drive) III has a maximum instrument payload capacity of 45 pounds (20kg), not including counterweights. This allows the use of some serious optical tubes (for example a TOA-130), along with a photoguide scope and considerable ancillary imaging equipment. However, most astronomers will probably want to limit the instrument payload to about 35 pounds without counterweights (the optimal payload), to benefit from the increased stability of having a smaller instrument on an over-sized mount.

• Drive system details: The EM-200 USD III has 180-tooth 3.6" diameter bronze drive gears in both right ascension and declination, with 18mm diameter worms (steel right ascension, brass declination). The 1.6" diameter bronze right ascension and 1.6" diameter steel declination shafts are supported by multiple pre-loaded ball bearings.
      The standard equipment dual axis drive motors are built into the chassis to protect them from the elements and reduce maintenance to a minimum. The quartz-controlled r. a. and dec stepper motors operate at a 100 pulse per second rate, assuring an imperceptible stepping motion during visual observing and imaging. Careful design and machining keeps the periodic error to a very low +/-5 arc seconds during each 8 minute rotation of the worm gear.
      The motors are powered by an optional 12 VDC power source. Takahashi has an optional 110/220VAC to 12 VDC power supply (#TPS0012) available, as well an optional rechargeable 12 VDC battery packs available to power their scopes, in 12 amp hour (#TBAT12) and 26 amp hour (#TBAT26) capacities.
      The supplied hand control provides a variety of user-selected drive correction rates for astrophotography, from 0.1x sidereal to 1.9x sidereal in right ascension, and +/- 1.5 to 13.5 arc sec/sec in 1.5 arc sec/sec increments. Four pushbuttons in a diamond pattern control the motion in r. a. and dec, while a red/green LED shows which speed mode is engaged. A nearby switch and pushbuttons change the directional speed from normal/drive correction to a very fast 700x sidereal rate slewing, change from northern to southern hemisphere operation, change the drive correction rates, etc.
      The USD III control panel built into the side of the mount contains an on/off indicator; an adjustable brightness control for the internal illuminator of the built-in polar alignment scope; a computer standby switch for connecting to an optional PC or advanced Takahashi hand control (#ATHC) through the standard RS-232 port; a DC power input port; a hand control port; and an SBIG type ST4/7 autoguider port for self-guided astrophotography.

• Mount details: The EM-200 USD III’s aluminum die-cast body is built to be strong, yet reasonably light, to satisfy both stability and portability needs. The equatorial head, not counting the two standard equipment 11 pound (5kg) counterweights, weighs 33 pounds (15kg). The tripod weighs 20 pounds. Additional counterweights are available to balance very heavy payloads. The counterweight shaft retracts into the equatorial head for more convenient transport.
      The mount is designed to operate in both northern and southern hemispheres at latitudes from 20° to 50°. A single large knob in the base of the mount adjusts the mount in altitude, while twin adjustment knobs let you fine-tune the azimuth alignment on the pole over a +/-15° arc.
      The standard equipment illuminated variable-brightness polar alignment finderscope can align the scope on either celestial pole with a 2 arc minute accuracy. The alignment scale on the polar finder’s reticle is accurate through the year 2030 and can be extrapolated beyond that point. There is a built-in bubble level for leveling the mount for the most accurate tracking.

• Setting circles and slow motion controls: Right ascension and declination setting circles, used to help point the telescope at a celestial object by dialing in its coordinates, are standard equipment. The right ascension circle is marked in hours and subdivided in 10 arc minute intervals, while the declination circle is divided into four 90° quadrants, each divided into 10° segments, with each 10° segment subdivided into 2° intervals.
      Large quick-release levers disengage the right ascension and declination axes independently to allow you to quickly move your optical tube manually to any part of the sky. No manual slow motion controls are provided. Once you move your OTA by hand to the vicinity of your target, the levers are reengaged and the hand control then provides motorized centering and fine-tuning of the tube position.

• Tripod: The supplied Takahashi SE-L tripod is a 20 pound fixed height wood tripod with a metal accessory tray. The legs are made of a dark stained Luan mahogany. The top of the tripod is 44.9" above ground level, and the nodal point (the intersection of the right ascension and declination axes) is 58.25" above ground level. Its length makes it well suited for use with longer focal length refractors, although observing from a seated position will be necessary with some scopes. A single large hand-tighten lever on each leg locks the tripod onto the three mounting posts that are part of the die-cast base of the EM-200 USD III mount.
      The SE-L tripod is very solid and stable, able to support the EM-200 equatorial head and its associated payloads with ease. The tripod’s wood legs have excellent vibration damping characteristics. The result is that your images remain steady and vibration-free, even at high magnifications, making for a more enjoyable observing experience.
      The tripod legs are tipped with pointed metal feet, designed to sink into grass or dirt for a solid footing for your scope. A metal peg is molded into the outside of each tripod leg so you can apply pressure with your foot to anchor the scope firmly in the ground. If you set up the mount on a hard surface, such as a deck or driveway, a set of vibration damping pads would be a useful addition.
      The tripod’s aluminum accessory tray helps lock the legs firmly open. A low lip on the tray keeps small items from rolling off the tray in the dark. There is a hook molded into the top of one of the legs to hold your mount’s hand control and keep it close at hand.

• Optical tube mounting method: The mount is designed primarily to be used with Takahashi tube rings, as the circular top of the mount has two holes on 35mm centers threaded to accept the M8 metric bolts supplied with Takahashi rings. However, for non-Takahashi scopes, Losmandy makes a saddle plate that mounts on the EM-200 head and holds standard Losmandy D-plate dovetails (#G11SPT).

• Computer control: The mount comes with a factory-installed Temma-2M dual-axis drive/drive corrector, with built-in encoders. The Temma-2M drive corrector converts to a go-to system simply by adding an optional advanced Takahashi hand control (#ATHC) or an external PC.

If you’re looking for a very stable, very high-precision German equatorial mount, yet one that is reasonably portable, take a careful look at the Takahashi EM-200 USD III Temma-2M mount and SE-L tripod combination.