{"product_id":"baader-planetarium-dovetail-bar-3-inch-470mm-18-5-inch-for-celestron-custom-builds","title":"Baader Planetarium Dovetail Bar 3\", 470mm (18.5\") – for Celestron \/ Custom builds","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3-inch Losmandy-style dovetail profile\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e470mm (18.5\") overall length for optimal balance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides a rigid mounting platform for large telescopes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDurable black anodized finish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeal for Celestron SCTs and custom telescope builds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- more --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAQ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDownloads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section-center\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDovetail Bar 3\", 470mm (18.5\") – for Celestron \/ Custom builds\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Baader 3-inch Losmandy-style Dovetail Bar provides a rigid, 470mm (18.5\") long mounting platform engineered for large optical tubes. This extended length is critical for achieving precise balance with heavy imaging trains on Celestron telescopes and custom-built instruments. Its industry-standard 3-inch profile ensures a secure, no-flex connection to any Losmandy-D compatible saddle plate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e470mm Extended Length: Superior Balance for Large OTAs\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 470mm (18.5\"), this dovetail bar offers significantly more surface area than standard plates, allowing you to slide your telescope forward or backward with greater range. This is essential for perfectly balancing large Schmidt-Cassegrains or refractors, especially when loaded with guide scopes, filter wheels, and heavy cameras. Proper balance reduces strain on your mount's drive gears, leading to more accurate tracking and sharper long-exposure images.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBaader 3-Inch Profile: A Rigid, Losmandy-Compatible Foundation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis bar is machined to the widely adopted 3-inch \"Losmandy-D\" standard, ensuring compatibility with a vast range of high-capacity German equatorial mounts. Baader's manufacturing creates a stiff, flexure-free foundation that prevents sag, even with heavy payloads. The durable black anodized finish protects the bar from scratches and corrosion while reducing stray light reflections within your imaging setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat is the advantage of a 470mm dovetail bar for my Celestron EdgeHD 11\"?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Celestron EdgeHD 11\" with a full imaging setup (camera, filter wheel, off-axis guider) is significantly back-heavy. The \u003cstrong\u003e470mm length\u003c\/strong\u003e of this Baader bar allows you to shift the entire telescope assembly further forward in the mount saddle, achieving perfect balance around the declination axis. This is often impossible with shorter, stock dovetail bars, and is critical for precise tracking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWill this 470mm Baader bar fit any mount with a Losmandy-D saddle?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, the \u003cstrong\u003e3-inch profile\u003c\/strong\u003e is designed to the Losmandy-D specification, so it will physically lock into any corresponding saddle plate. However, with a long bar like this, you should always check for physical clearance. Ensure the 470mm length will not collide with your mount's housing or tripod legs when slewing to different parts of the sky, particularly near the celestial pole.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eIs this Baader dovetail bar pre-drilled for specific telescope rings?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Baader bar is supplied as a universal plate intended for custom mounting solutions or for direct attachment to Celestron SCTs that have compatible bolt patterns. It may not have pre-drilled holes that align perfectly with every brand of telescope rings out of the box. You may need to drill your own holes to match your specific ring spacing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eCan I mount both a guide scope and my main telescope on this single 470mm bar?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, the \u003cstrong\u003e18.5-inch length\u003c\/strong\u003e provides ample room to mount both your main telescope rings and a set of smaller guide scope rings side-by-side or in-line on the same bar. This creates a very rigid setup that minimizes differential flexure between your imaging and guiding optical tubes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat does \"3-inch Losmandy style\" mean for this dovetail bar?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"3-inch Losmandy style\" (or Losmandy-D) refers to a specific dovetail plate standard in astronomy. It is physically larger and more robust than the narrower Vixen-style (V-style) dovetail. This 3-inch standard is used on higher-capacity mounts designed to carry heavier telescopes securely without flexure or slippage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow does the black anodized finish on the Baader bar help?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eblack anodized finish\u003c\/strong\u003e serves two purposes. First, it creates a hard, corrosion-resistant surface that protects the aluminum from scratches and wear. Second, its matte black texture minimizes reflections from stray light, which is important for preventing glare and maintaining high contrast in your astrophotos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"DAV-specifications\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNet weight (kg)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.92\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThread Drillings for\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCelestron C8, Celestron C9¼, Celestron C11\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBar or Clamp?\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDual mounting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScrews included?\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eClamping System\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDovetail clamp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDesign\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3“ (76mm) Losmandy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBar length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e470 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/pages\/baader-planetarium-warranty-policy\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBaader Planetarium Warranty\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Baader Planetarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52913229922589,"sku":"BAA-1501615","price":132.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/BaaderPlanetarium-Dovetail-Bar-3-470mm-18-5-for-Celestron-Custom-builds-1_19e1059a-5e55-4be2-bc2f-58bddc83e67c.jpg?v=1789088505","url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/en-us\/products\/baader-planetarium-dovetail-bar-3-inch-470mm-18-5-inch-for-celestron-custom-builds","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}