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Baader Stronghold Tangent Mount Assembly - Black

by Baader Planetarium
SKU BAA-2450310S
$429.00 - $429.00
$429.00
$429.00 - $429.00
$429.00
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  • Precision tangent assembly for fine pointing adjustments
  • Designed for securely mounting finders, guidescopes, and telephoto lenses
  • Engineered for high rigidity to eliminate flexure
  • Includes a Vixen-style EQ-clamp; 3" Losmandy bars need optional rider clamp #2450316
  • Durable, all-metal construction in a black anodized finish
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  • Baader Stronghold Tangent Mount Assembly - Black

    The Baader Stronghold Tangent Mount Assembly is a specialized mounting platform engineered to provide exceptionally stable, precisely-aimable support for ancillary instruments like guidescopes, finders, or secondary imaging cameras. It solves the critical problem of differential flexure by creating a rigid, non-slip connection between your main telescope and your guiding or finding system. For astrophotographers who require perfect guide star tracking or visual observers demanding accurate finder alignment, the Stronghold delivers a robust mechanical foundation for pointing accuracy.

    The Stronghold Concept: Rigid, Vibration-Free Mounting

    The "Stronghold" name reflects the design's primary goal: to eliminate the minute shifts and flexure that can plague simpler mounting solutions like standard guidescope rings. Any movement between the imaging telescope and the guidescope will result in elongated stars, ruining an exposure. This assembly is constructed to act as a single, solid unit with your optical tube, ensuring that where your guidescope points, your main telescope follows without deviation.

    Tangent Assembly Mechanics: Precision Pointing for Ancillary Optics

    At the heart of the Stronghold is its tangent mechanism. This system allows for extremely fine, intuitive, and orthogonal (azimuth and altitude) adjustments to the mounted instrument's aim. Four exterior screws adjust the tangent assembly, by loosening one screw and tightening the opposite one, making it simple to center a guide star on a sensor or align a finderscope's crosshairs with your main eyepiece's field of view, even while wearing gloves in the dark.

    System Integration: Mounting Options for Telescopes and Accessories

    The top plate has a 1/4" photo thread and six M6 threaded holes; the base plate has 1/4" and 3/8" photo threads plus four M6 and four M5 threaded holes. The included EQ-clamp fits Vixen-style dovetail bars, and 3" Losmandy-style bars need the optional 3" rider clamp #2450316. This adaptability means you can mount a wide array of instruments, from small 50mm finders to heavier guidescopes or telephoto lenses, confident that the connection is secure and stable for a night of imaging or observing.

  • What is the primary use for the Baader Stronghold Tangent Mount Assembly?

    The Baader Stronghold is designed to hold a secondary optical instrument (like a guidescope, finderscope, or telephoto lens) parallel to a main telescope. Its key function is to allow for very fine pointing adjustments of that secondary instrument, independent of the main scope, while maintaining a completely rigid, flex-free connection.

    How does the Stronghold Tangent Mount improve autoguiding on an equatorial mount?

    For autoguiding, the Stronghold provides two critical benefits. First, its rigid structure prevents differential flexure, which is a primary cause of guiding errors and elongated stars. Second, the tangent assembly makes it incredibly easy to find and center a suitable guide star on your guide camera's sensor without having to move the main telescope off its target.

    Can I use the Baader Stronghold to mount a large finderscope on my 11" SCT?

    Yes. The Stronghold is an excellent choice for mounting larger, heavier finderscopes or small refractors onto Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes (SCTs). Its stability ensures that the finder's alignment with the main telescope remains accurate night after night, which is often a problem with less robust mounting brackets.

    What makes the Stronghold design different from basic guidescope rings?

    Instead of centering a scope inside rings, the Stronghold aims the whole instrument platform in azimuth (+/- 23°) and elevation (+/- 35°): loosen one of the four exterior locking screws and counter-lock the opposite one, then lock the elevation axis with the included dowel. Its overall construction is significantly more massive and rigid, designed specifically to combat flexure for serious imaging.

    Is the Baader Stronghold Tangent Mount difficult to adjust in the dark?

    No, it is designed for field use. Adjustment is made with four exterior screws, loosening one and tightening the opposite one, and the included locking dowel locks the elevation axis. Azimuth (+/- 23°) and elevation (+/- 35°) are both set with these opposing screws.

    What kind of equipment can I attach to the Stronghold assembly?

    The Baader Stronghold is highly versatile. It's commonly used to mount:

    • Autoguiding telescopes
    • High-power optical finderscopes
    • Telephoto camera lenses for wide-field imaging
    • Small, short-tube refractor telescopes
    The specific instrument is attached via standard dovetail clamps or threaded holes, making it compatible with a wide range of astronomical accessories.
  • Net weight (kg) 0.68
    Dual mounting No
    Screws included? Yes
    Top plate mounting options 1/4" photo thread, 6pc. M6 threads
    Base plate mounting options 1/4" and 3/8" photo threads, 4pc. M6 and 4pc. M5 threads
    Payload Capacity (kg) max. 7kg for imaging
    Azimuth adjustment +/- 23°
    Elevation adjustment +/- 35°
    Kind Tangent pointing platform
    Dovetail standard Vixen (EQ-clamp included)
    Length 115 mm
    Fits (mount / scope) Guide scopes, finders, telephoto lenses; Vixen/V dovetail bars via included EQ-clamp

    • Stronghold Tangent Assembly

      × 1

    • Locking dowel

      × 1

    • Holder for locking dowel

      × 1

    • Reducer 3/8in

      × 1

    • EQ-clamp (Vixen standard)

      × 1

    • 1/4in photo thumb screw

      × 1

  • Baader Planetarium Warranty Policy