Motor drives enhance observing convenience by automatically "tracking" the selected object once accurate polar alignment has been completed. For astrophotography, a mount equipped with dual-axis motor drive is essential.
In addition to tracking the stars (operating as a clock drive), stepper motors can also make corrective adjustments on the appropriate axis. A single-axis motor drive naturally only allows 2x and 4x slewing speeds on the RA axis. A dual-axis motor drive provides 2x, 4x and 8x speeds on both the RA and DEC axes.
An important feature of this product is its clutch mechanism, which allows switching between manual and motorized fine adjustment.
The controller with an ST-4 port makes astrophotography easier and offers several additional functions compared to the basic hand controller: in addition to sidereal tracking, it can track at solar and lunar rates, features a 0.5x correction speed, and most importantly, includes an ST-4 standard autoguider input, allowing the use of external guiding solutions.
The motor drives can be powered by four D-cell batteries, with a separate battery holder included in the box. (Batteries are not included.) An external 6 V power source can also be used.
Note: Please keep in mind when purchasing that the single-axis version cannot be expanded with an additional motor, and the dual-axis version cannot be upgraded with GoTo control.
