{"product_id":"explore-scientific-exos2cwb","title":"Explore Scientific EXOS-2\/EXOS-2GT Counterweight 9.9 Pounds - Black","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOfficial component for Explore Scientific EXOS-2 and EXOS-2GT mounts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEssential for balancing telescope optical tubes and imaging payloads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReduces mechanical strain on the mount's drive system\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eImproves tracking accuracy for visual observing and astrophotography\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\u003eEXOS-2\/EXOS-2GT Counterweight 9.9 Pounds - Black\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific EXOS-2\/EXOS-2GT Counterweight 9.9 Pounds is the official factory component required for balancing optical tubes on your EXOS-2 or EXOS-2GT German equatorial mount. Achieving proper balance is critical for accurate tracking, and it reduces strain on the mount's motors, leading to 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\u003eBalance Your EXOS-2\/EXOS-2GT for Smoother Tracking\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA properly balanced German equatorial mount is non-negotiable for serious observing and astrophotography. This counterweight helps you achieve perfect equilibrium when using different telescopes, cameras, or accessories on your EXOS-2 or EXOS-2GT mount. By neutralizing the weight of your optical tube, you allow the mount's motors to guide with minimal effort, resulting in smoother tracking and preventing premature wear on the gears.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAchieve Perfect Equilibrium:\u003c\/strong\u003e Precisely offset the weight of your telescope and imaging equipment for optimal mount operation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProtect Your Investment:\u003c\/strong\u003e An unbalanced load puts significant stress on the worm gears and motors, leading to potential damage over time. This counterweight ensures your mount operates within its designed tolerances.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSharper Images:\u003c\/strong\u003e By minimizing motor strain, the mount can track celestial objects more precisely, which is critical for preventing star trails in long-exposure astrophotography.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\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\"\u003eWhy do I need a counterweight for my Explore Scientific EXOS-2\/EXOS-2GT mount?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA counterweight is essential for balancing the weight of your telescope on a German equatorial mount like the EXOS-2 or EXOS-2GT. Without it, the mount's motors would be heavily strained, leading to poor tracking, inaccurate GoTo slewing, and potential damage to the drive gears.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow do I know if I need this specific EXOS-2\/EXOS-2GT Counterweight?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou need additional counterweights when the standard weights supplied with your mount are not enough to balance a new, heavier telescope or a hefty imaging train (camera, filter wheel, guide scope). If you have to slide your existing counterweight to the very end of the shaft and still can't achieve balance, you need to add more weight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eI just added a larger 8\" SCT to my EXOS-2GT. Will I need an extra counterweight?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost certainly, yes. An 8\" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope is significantly heavier than the lighter refractors or smaller Newtonians often sold with the EXOS-2GT. You will likely need this additional counterweight, possibly in addition to the one that came with your mount, to achieve proper balance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eIf I'm only doing visual observing with a light 80mm refractor on my EXOS-2, is this counterweight still necessary?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt depends on what came with your mount. Most mounts include at least one counterweight sufficient for a light optical tube. If you can already balance your 80mm refractor with your existing counterweight(s), you do not need another. This item is for when your payload is too heavy for your current counterweight setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eCan I use this EXOS-2\/EXOS-2GT counterweight on a different brand of mount?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not recommended. Counterweights are designed to fit a specific counterweight shaft diameter. While it might physically fit on another mount, there's no guarantee. This counterweight is designed and threaded specifically for the Explore Scientific EXOS-2 and EXOS-2GT mounts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow does balancing my EXOS-2\/EXOS-2GT mount affect GoTo accuracy?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA well-balanced mount slews more smoothly and accurately. When the load is balanced, the motors don't have to fight gravity, allowing them to move the telescope to the correct coordinates with greater precision. An unbalanced mount can cause slewing errors and place objects outside the eyepiece's field of view.\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\u003eGTIN\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e811803036345\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\/explore-scientific-warranty-policy\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eExplore Scientific Warranty\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52909299040541,"sku":"ES-EXOS2CWB","price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/ExploreScientific-EXOS-2-EXOS-2GT-Counterweight-9-9-Pounds-Black-1_35d0a3df-1154-4944-800c-9efff98eeb8e.jpg?v=1789061133","url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/en-us\/products\/explore-scientific-exos2cwb","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}