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IMPORTANT: Our store is located in Canada. All orders that include products manufactured outside of Canada or USA will be subject to tariffs and duties, regardless of the order value. US customers are responsible for all applicable duties and tariffs, and those will be billed by the carrier, except for the Lacerta upgrade kit, for which we collect them at checkout.
Software Bisque Paramount Taurus Model 600 Equatorial Fork Mount Direct Drive

Software Bisque Paramount Taurus Model 600 Equatorial Fork Mount Direct Drive

by Software Bisque
SKU SB10309-01
Sold out
$55,295.00 - $55,295.00
$55,295.00
$55,295.00 - $55,295.00
$55,295.00
Price Match Policy!
  • Equatorial fork design for uninterrupted horizon-to-horizon imaging
  • High-performance direct-drive motors for silent, rapid slewing
  • On-axis absolute encoders eliminate periodic error and the need for homing
  • Includes TheSky Universal software bundle with TPoint and ProTrack
  • Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux
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  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • Downloads
  • Warranty

  • Software Bisque Paramount Taurus Model 600 Equatorial Fork Mount Direct Drive

    The Software Bisque Paramount Taurus Model 600 is an integrated observatory system engineered for uninterrupted, automated imaging. Its equatorial fork architecture eliminates the meridian flip required by German equatorial mounts, allowing for continuous data acquisition on any object from horizon to horizon. Paired with high-performance direct-drive motors and on-axis absolute encoders, the Taurus 600 operates with silent precision, negligible periodic error, and immediate operational readiness without a homing procedure.

    Horizon-to-Horizon Imaging with a Direct-Drive Fork

    The fundamental design of the Paramount Taurus 600 solves the most persistent problem in automated astrophotography: the meridian flip. By cradling the optical tube in a rigid fork, the mount tracks objects continuously across the sky without interruption, maximizing valuable imaging time. This mechanical advantage is powered by a direct-drive motor system that delivers rapid slewing speeds and virtually silent tracking, making it ideal for quiet observatory environments.

    • No Meridian Flips: Capture hours of uninterrupted data on a single target as it transits the meridian, a task impossible for a German equatorial mount.
    • Direct-Drive Motors: Experience backlash-free operation and immediate response, with no gears to produce periodic error.
    • On-Axis Absolute Encoders: The mount always knows its precise orientation. This eliminates the need for homing and ensures tracking is exceptionally smooth, even for the most demanding applications.
    • Robust Construction: Built from machined 6060 and 6061 aluminum alloy with a powder-coated steel base, the mount is finished with a durable red powder coat and black anodization for long-term observatory use.

    TPoint and ProTrack: Telescope Modeling for Ultimate Precision

    While on-axis encoders eliminate periodic error from the drive system, true pointing and tracking accuracy depends on modeling the entire optical system. The included TPoint and ProTrack software create a comprehensive telescope model that accounts for system-wide variables, delivering pointing accuracy that encoders alone cannot achieve. This is the core of Paramount's legendary pointing and tracking.

    TPoint maps the sky to your specific instrument, correcting for polar misalignment, tube flexure, and atmospheric refraction. ProTrack then uses this live model to continuously refine the mount's position, correcting for any residual errors in real time. The result is unguided tracking far superior to what a simple encoder system can provide.

    TheSky Universal: A Cross-Platform Observatory Control Center

    The Paramount Taurus 600 includes a full license for TheSky Universal bundle, a complete suite for observatory control. This professional-grade package integrates hardware control, planetarium software, and image acquisition into a single ecosystem. Critically, it offers true cross-platform freedom, running natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux (arm64 and x86_64 architectures).

    The software license allows installation on up to six computers, providing unmatched flexibility for managing your observatory, whether on-site or remotely. The bundle includes TheSky Professional, TPoint, Cameras+, Domes, Multi-OS+, Weather, and the Satellites modules, enabling everything from deep-sky imaging to mission-critical satellite tracking.

    Paramount Taurus 600 vs. German Equatorial Mounts: The Meridian Flip Question

    The primary advantage of the Taurus 600 fork mount is eliminating the meridian flip. For remote observatories, survey projects, or any long-duration imaging session, this is a decisive factor.

    • German Equatorial Mounts (GEMs): A GEM must perform a meridian flip—a rotation of 180 degrees—as the target crosses the meridian. This interrupts imaging, requires recalibration of guiding, and risks field rotation errors if not executed perfectly.
    • Paramount Taurus Fork Mount: The Taurus tracks seamlessly from the moment an object rises to when it sets. There are no interruptions, no lost time, and no complex automation scripts needed to manage a flip. For fully autonomous operation, the fork design is mechanically superior.

    While a high-end GEM may offer more flexibility for swapping between vastly different optical tubes, the Taurus 600 is an optimized, integrated system designed for unmatched tracking continuity and reliability.

  • What is the main advantage of the Paramount Taurus 600's fork design over a GEM?

    The key advantage is uninterrupted imaging. The equatorial fork design allows the Paramount Taurus 600 to track an object continuously from horizon to horizon without performing a meridian flip. This eliminates lost imaging time, complex automation routines, and the risk of field rotation errors associated with flips on German Equatorial Mounts (GEMs).

    If the Taurus 600 has absolute encoders, why do I still need TPoint and ProTrack?

    Absolute encoders are excellent at eliminating periodic error from the mount's drive system, but they can't correct for other real-world issues. TPoint and ProTrack create a full telescope model that corrects for system-wide errors like atmospheric refraction, telescope tube flexure, and mirror shift. This software-based modeling provides a higher level of pointing and tracking accuracy than hardware encoders alone can achieve.

    Can I use the Paramount Taurus 600 with software other than TheSky?

    Yes. The direct drive mounts can be controlled by third-party software. However, to achieve the Paramount's signature pointing and tracking accuracy, you would need to license Software Bisque's professional version of TPoint and TCSpk separately to build the necessary telescope model.

    What operating systems are supported by the included TheSky Universal software for the Taurus 600?

    TheSky Universal is a fully cross-platform application. It runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux (for both arm64 and x86_64 architectures). The application provides an identical user experience across all supported operating systems, and a single license can be installed on up to six computers.

    How would the Paramount Taurus 600 handle a long imaging sequence on an object like the Orion Nebula (M42) as it crosses the meridian?

    The Paramount Taurus 600 would handle it seamlessly. As M42 approached and crossed the meridian, the mount would continue tracking without any interruption. You could start an imaging plan when the nebula rises and continue collecting data until it sets, without ever needing to stop, re-center, or recalibrate a guider due to a meridian flip.

    I run a remote observatory with both Mac and Linux computers. Can the Taurus 600 software accommodate this setup?

    Absolutely. This is an ideal scenario for the Paramount Taurus 600. The included TheSky Universal software runs natively on both macOS and Linux. Your license allows for up to six installations, so you can have the control software running on multiple machines in your observatory and at your remote location, regardless of the operating system.

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  • Software Bisque 2-Year Warranty