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Equatorial Mounts

An equatorial mount aligns one axis with the Earth's rotation, so a single motor at sidereal rate holds a target still indefinitely and the field does not rotate. That single geometric fact is why every long-exposure deep-sky image is made on one. David Astro stocks equatorial mounts in Canada, from portable German equatorials to observatory-class heads, shipped domestically.

Polar alignment accuracy, payload margin and periodic error are the three variables that decide your results. Tell us your optic and focal length and we will size the mount against all three.

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$2,095.00 - $2,095.00
$2,095.00
$2,095.00 - $2,095.00
$2,095.00

Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ5 GoTo Mount

SW-S30200

Hybrid Alt-Azimuth and German Equatorial mount design 30 lb payload capacity for visual and imaging Freedom Find™ dual-encoder system allows manua...

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$2,095.00 - $2,095.00
$2,095.00
$2,095.00 - $2,095.00
$2,095.00
$2,850.00 - $2,850.00
$2,850.00
$2,850.00 - $2,850.00
$2,850.00

Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 GoTo Mount

SW-S30330

Dual Equatorial (EQ) and Alt-Azimuth (AZ) functionality 44 lb payload capacity for imaging or dual visual setups Belt-driven stepper motors for hi...

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$2,850.00 - $2,850.00
$2,850.00
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$525.00 - $525.00
$525.00
$525.00 - $525.00
$525.00

Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi Mount

SW-S21110

11 lb payload capacity in a 3.1 lb mount head GoTo pointing and tracking controlled via WiFi Freedom Find™ dual-encoder system for manual movement...

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$525.00 - $525.00
$525.00
$525.00 - $525.00
$525.00
$3,895.00 - $4,695.00
$3,895.00 - $4,695.00
$3,895.00 - $4,695.00
$3,895.00

Sky-Watcher CQ350 Pro Mount Head Only with Counterweights

Options available
2 variants in stock

77-pound payload capacity Belt-driven stepper motor drive system Integrated cable management with 4x USB and 3x power output ports D/V-style dual ...

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$3,895.00 - $4,695.00
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$845.00 - $845.00
$845.00
$845.00 - $845.00
$845.00

Sky-Watcher EQ-AL55i Pro Mount

SW-S30515
3 in stock

22-pound (9.97kg) instrument capacity Lightweight 8.2-pound (3.7kg) mount head Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth for app-based GoTo control Includes ill...

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$845.00 - $845.00
$845.00
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$845.00
$2,250.00 - $2,250.00
$2,250.00
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$2,250.00

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro

SW-S30300
1 in stock

44 lb instrument payload capacity Belt-driven stepper motors for smooth, quiet slewing SynScan GoTo controller with 42,900+ object database Built-...

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$2,250.00 - $2,250.00
$2,250.00
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$2,250.00
$5,895.00 - $5,895.00
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Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Mount Head Only with Counterweights

SW-S30612

110 lb Payload Capacity Thru-Mount Cable Management Hub Whisper-Quiet Dual Belt Drive System SynScan GoTo with 42,900+ Object Database Includes Tw...

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$5,895.00 - $5,895.00
$5,895.00
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$6,995.00 - $6,995.00
$6,995.00
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$6,995.00

Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Mount with Pier Tripod

SW-S30601

110 lb instrument payload capacity Whisper-quiet dual belt-drive system Integrated thru-mount cable management with 4x USB 3.0 ports SynScan GoTo ...

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$6,995.00 - $6,995.00
$6,995.00
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$6,995.00
$10,450.00 - $10,450.00
$10,450.00
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$10,450.00

Sky-Watcher EQ8-Rh Mount Head Only with Counterweights

SW-S30712

110 lbs payload capacity for observatory-class instruments Whisper-quiet dual belt-drive system for smooth, precise tracking Renishaw high-resolut...

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$10,450.00 - $10,450.00
$10,450.00
$10,450.00 - $10,450.00
$10,450.00
$11,500.00 - $11,500.00
$11,500.00
$11,500.00 - $11,500.00
$11,500.00

Sky-Watcher EQ8-Rh Mount with Pier Tripod

SW-S30701

110 lbs payload capacity for observatory-grade instruments Dual belt-drive system for smooth, quiet tracking with minimal periodic error Renishaw ...

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$11,500.00 - $11,500.00
$11,500.00
$11,500.00 - $11,500.00
$11,500.00
$1,625.00 - $1,625.00
$1,625.00
$1,625.00 - $1,625.00
$1,625.00

Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Mount

SW-S30400
2 in stock

Payload Capacity: 13.6 kg (30 lb) Mount Type: German Equatorial GoTo Tripod: 1.75" Diameter Rolled Steel Object Database: 42,900+ Objects Sad...

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$1,625.00 - $1,625.00
$1,625.00
$1,625.00 - $1,625.00
$1,625.00
$1,695.00 - $1,695.00
$1,695.00
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$1,695.00

Sky-Watcher HEQ5-R Mount

SW-S30450

33-pound instrument payload capacity Belt-driven stepper motors for quiet, precise tracking Integrated WiFi for wireless control via SynScan Pro a...

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$1,695.00 - $1,695.00
$1,695.00
$1,695.00 - $1,695.00
$1,695.00
$2,295.00 - $2,295.00
$2,295.00
$2,295.00 - $2,295.00
$2,295.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 100i Pro Mount with Carbon Fiber Tripod & Pier Extension

SW-S40013

Complete mount kit weighs only 17.2 lb (7.8 kg) Strain wave drive supports 22 lb (10 kg) without a counterweight 9.5 lb (4.3 kg) mount head with E...

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$2,295.00 - $2,295.00
$2,295.00
$2,295.00 - $2,295.00
$2,295.00
$2,195.00 - $2,195.00
$2,195.00
$2,195.00 - $2,195.00
$2,195.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 100i Pro Mount with Steel Tripod & Pier Extension

SW-S40014

Supports a 22 lb imaging payload on a mount head that weighs only 9.5 lbs Includes a heavy-duty 2-inch adjustable steel tripod and extension tube ...

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$2,195.00 - $2,195.00
$2,195.00
$2,195.00 - $2,195.00
$2,195.00
$1,895.00 - $1,895.00
$1,895.00
$1,895.00 - $1,895.00
$1,895.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 100i Strainwave Mount

SW-S30900
1 in stock

Supports a 22-pound payload without counterweights Ultra-portable 9.5-pound mount head weight Dual AZ/EQ modes for visual and astrophotography Hig...

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$1,895.00 - $1,895.00
$1,895.00
$1,895.00 - $1,895.00
$1,895.00
$2,895.00 - $2,895.00
$2,895.00
$2,895.00 - $2,895.00
$2,895.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 150i Pro Mount Kit w/ Carbon Fiber Tripod and Pier Extension Tube

SW-S40015

Wave 150i GoTo strainwave head EQ and AZ modes Built-in cable management Weighs 12.8 pounds (5.8kg) 33-pound (15kg) payload capacity without optio...

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$2,895.00 - $2,895.00
$2,895.00
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$2,895.00
$2,795.00 - $2,795.00
$2,795.00
$2,795.00 - $2,795.00
$2,795.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 150i Pro Mount Kit w/ Steel Tripod and Pier Extension Tube

SW-S40016
1 in stock

Supports 33 lbs without counterweights, expandable to 55 lbs Ultra-portable 12.8 lb mount head weight Dual AZ and EQ tracking modes for visual and...

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$2,795.00 - $2,795.00
$2,795.00
$2,795.00 - $2,795.00
$2,795.00
$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00
$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00

Sky-Watcher Wave 150i Strainwave Mount

SW-S30905
1 in stock

Supports imaging payloads up to 33 pounds without counterweights, or 55 pounds with the optional counterweight kit Ultra-portable 12.8-pound mount...

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$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00
$2,495.00 - $2,495.00
$2,495.00
$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00

Software Bisque Paramount ME Robotic Telescope System

Options available

Observatory-Grade German Equatorial Mount Belt-driven gears for virtually zero backlash Includes two 14 kg (30 lb.) counterweights MKS 6000 contro...

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$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00
$11,795.00 - $17,795.00
$11,795.00 - $17,795.00
$11,795.00 - $17,795.00
$11,795.00

Software Bisque Paramount MX Robotic Telescope System

Options available

Transportable Observatory-Class German Equatorial Mount Includes one 20 lb. (9 kg) stainless-steel counterweight 48V DC, 4.6A power system for hig...

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$11,795.00 - $17,795.00
$11,795.00 - $17,795.00
$11,795.00 - $17,795.00
$11,795.00
$8,595.00 - $14,595.00
$8,595.00 - $14,595.00
$8,595.00 - $14,595.00
$8,595.00

Software Bisque Paramount MYT Robotic Telescope System

Options available

Robotic German equatorial mount Included 20 lb. counterweight balances 25-30 lbs. of instruments Achieves 10 to 15-minute unguided exposures Inclu...

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$8,595.00 - $14,595.00
$8,595.00 - $14,595.00
$8,595.00 - $14,595.00
$8,595.00
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$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00

Software Bisque Paramount Taurus Model 400 Equatorial Fork Mount

SB10636

Equatorial fork design for uninterrupted horizon-to-horizon imaging Supports Schmidt-Cassegrain or open-truss telescopes up to 17 inches Advanced ...

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$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00 - $25,295.00
$19,295.00
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$53,295.00 - $53,295.00
$53,295.00
$53,295.00 - $53,295.00
$53,295.00

Software Bisque Paramount Taurus Model 500 Equatorial Fork Mount Direct Drive

SB10308-01

Equatorial Fork Mount Design Direct-Drive Motors On-Axis Absolute Encoders Horizon-to-Horizon Uninterrupted Imaging Includes TheSky Universal Soft...

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$53,295.00 - $53,295.00
$53,295.00
$53,295.00 - $53,295.00
$53,295.00
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$55,295.00 - $55,295.00
$55,295.00
$55,295.00 - $55,295.00
$55,295.00

Software Bisque Paramount Taurus Model 600 Equatorial Fork Mount Direct Drive

SB10309-01

Equatorial fork design for uninterrupted horizon-to-horizon imaging High-performance direct-drive motors for silent, rapid slewing On-axis absolut...

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$55,295.00 - $55,295.00
$55,295.00
$55,295.00 - $55,295.00
$55,295.00
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Equatorial Mount Design and Performance

Every equatorial mount does the same job. What varies is how precisely it does it under load, and how much of the remaining error can be corrected.

  • German equatorial layout: Counterweighted design that balances any tube on the same head, requiring a meridian flip as targets cross south — which automation software handles routinely.
  • Polar alignment: Determines residual field rotation and drift. For long exposures, alignment accuracy matters more than mount cost above a certain point.
  • Periodic error: Cyclical tracking error from the worm gear, measured in arcseconds. Its smoothness matters as much as its amplitude, since smooth error guides out cleanly.
  • Belt drives: Replace gear meshing with toothed belts, reducing backlash and high-frequency error — a common upgrade path and a standard feature on newer mounts.
  • Encoders and PEC: Periodic error correction replays a learned curve; encoders measure and correct actual shaft position in real time, which is considerably more effective.
  • Balance and counterweights: Correct balance in both axes reduces motor load and is one of the cheapest ways to improve guiding.

Why Choose David Astro for Equatorial Mounts

The specification that matters is not on the box, so ask someone who has used the mount.

  • Guiding-realistic payload sizing: We recommend loading to 50 to 60% of the visual rating for imaging, and we will explain why a mount that carries your tube may still not guide it well.
  • Polar alignment planning: We advise on alignment method for your site, including electronic alignment when Polaris is blocked, which is common in urban backyards.
  • Meridian clearance checked: We calculate whether your tube will strike the tripod at the meridian and specify a pier extension if it will.
  • Authorized dealer: Full manufacturer warranty with diagnostics and service handled in Canada.
  • Domestic freight: Heavy mounts ship from Canadian stock with no duties or brokerage fees for Canadian buyers.

Equatorial Mounts in Canada — Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate does polar alignment need to be?
For guided imaging, within a few arcminutes is generally sufficient — guiding handles the rest. For unguided or very long focal length work, aim for under one arcminute, which electronic alignment achieves quickly.
What is a meridian flip and does it matter?
A German equatorial must swap sides as a target crosses south, which rotates your framing 180 degrees and interrupts guiding. Automation software handles it, but you must plan for the pause and re-centring.
Is periodic error correction enough without guiding?
Rarely, for long exposures. PEC reduces the repeatable component but not drift, flexure or seeing. Guiding or encoders remain necessary for consistent sub-exposures beyond a couple of minutes.
Can I upgrade an existing mount to belt drive?
For several common mounts, yes, and it is a worthwhile improvement to backlash and high-frequency error. Tell us the model and we will confirm whether a kit exists.

Sizing an equatorial mount?

Tell us your tube, camera and focal length and we will recommend with guiding margin. Full warranty, shipped from Canada.