Single axis DC drive for Celestron AstroMaster and PowerSeeker telescopes

Single axis DC drive for Celestron AstroMaster and PowerSeeker telescopes

2 Review(s) | Add Your Review

$49.95

Availability: In stock

This Celestron single-axis DC drive provides automatic tracking of celestial objects with Celestron AstroMaster and PowerSeeker telescopes only . . .
Our Product #: MDASTRO
Celestron Product #: 93514
 

Product Description

This Celestron battery-operated single axis drive motor will work with Celestron AstroMaster and PowerSeeker telescopes and Celestron CG-2 and CG-3 mounts only. It is a single axis drive designed to move the scopes electrically in right ascension for visual observing and solar system photography.

The #MDASTRO has a variable speed control to match the differing speeds at which the Moon, planets, Sun, and stars move across the sky. It also has switch-controlled northern/southern hemisphere operation. The drive runs for up to 40 hours from one 9 volt transistor radio battery (supplied), depending on the air temperature (battery life is shorter when the temperatures are colder). Your telescope can be manually moved to any part of the sky while the drive is functioning by releasing the right ascension and declination locks and pushing the telescope tube in the desired direction. However, the drive does not have a built-in clutch, so the thumbscrew attaching the drive to the telescope must be loosened if very precise centering and positioning is desired using the manual slow motion controls.

Tech Details

Weight 12 oz.
Warranty 1 year

Reviews

Review by:
This is not a motor for astrophotography unless shooting with relatively fast exposures. However, it will track very nicely for observational enjoyment. Using just a "rough" Polaris-alignment with a finderscope, this little motor will keep your target in the center of the FOV. If you find it drifting, adjust the motor speed with the small knob below the power light. (Posted on 5/21/2021)
Review by:
I owned the little 114 Newtonian scope that this motor works on. You will be better off just using the handy knob to move it around. This little motor does function, but not to any reliable degree of accuracy. If you walk away from the scope for a second to throw another log on your campfire out at a dark site, you will maybe find the target still in the eyepiece or at least close. But don't expect anything approaching good enough for photography.

If I had to choose again, I would get a small Nexstar unit (one arm bandit) instead of the powerseeker 114 class. Even the lowest level Nexstar is a far better scope. (Posted on 1/2/2019)
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