Software Bisque Paramount Taurus Model 600 Equatorial Fork Mount Direct Drive

Equatorial Fork: Uninterrupted Imaging Up to 6 Hours Past the Meridian

The core design of the Paramount Taurus 600 is its equatorial fork, which removes the meridian flip. By cradling the optical tube between two rigid tines, the mount tracks an object continuously from horizon to horizon, allowing for uninterrupted data acquisition for up to 6 hours past the meridian.

There are no pauses for a meridian flip and no dangling counterweights, and no flip has to be scripted in an automated session that spans the meridian.

37 Nm Direct-Drive Motors: 30° Per Second Slews with No Measurable Backlash

The Taurus 600 uses high-performance direct-drive motors on both axes, delivering 37 Nm of continuous torque. This system physically connects the motor directly to the axis, with no gears in the drive. The direct drive motors produce no measurable backlash and mean silent operation.

With a maximum slew speed of 30° per second, the mount can move rapidly between targets, minimizing downtime during an observing run.

26-bit Absolute Encoders: 0.02 Arcsecond Resolution and No Homing

Paired with the direct-drive motors are 26-bit on-axis absolute encoders that provide a resolution of 0.02 arcseconds on each axis. These encoders give the control system constant, unambiguous knowledge of the mount's precise orientation at all times. No homing is required at the start of a session, and the mount can be powered off and on with virtually identical pointing and tracking accuracy from session to session.

Because the encoders provide the primary feedback for the servo loop, periodic error from mechanical sources is negligible. This tracking is then further refined by the software-based telescope model to correct for external factors.

TPoint & ProTrack: 30 Arcseconds RMS or Less

While on-axis encoders eliminate drive error, true pointing and tracking precision requires modeling the entire instrument package. The included TPoint and ProTrack software accomplishes this by creating a comprehensive telescope model that accounts for system-wide variables, achieving an all-sky pointing accuracy of 30 arcseconds RMS or less. Bisque bases that figure on its gear-driven models and says direct-drive Paramounts deliver significantly better results.

• TPoint Telescope Modeling: TPoint maps the sky as seen by your specific instrument, building a model that corrects for systematic errors like polar misalignment, non-perpendicularity between axes, and tube flexure.
• ProTrack Real-Time Correction: Operating with TPoint, ProTrack uses this live model to continuously refine the mount’s position during tracking. It actively corrects for atmospheric refraction and any residual harmonic errors, keeping your target centered.

TheSky Universal: Cross-Platform Control for 6 Computers

The Paramount Taurus 600 includes a full license for TheSky Universal bundle, a professional-grade suite for planetarium, telescope, and observatory control. It runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux (x86_64 and ARM64), offering true cross-platform freedom. A single license allows installation on up to six computers, for managing your observatory on-site or remotely.

The bundle integrates all necessary components into a single ecosystem. It includes TheSky Professional, TPoint, Cameras+, Domes, Multi-OS+, and Weather modules. The Satellites module is also included, for mission-critical, scripted and ephemeris-based satellite tracking.

400 lb. Capacity: Mounting a 24-inch OTA

With an instrument capacity of 400 lb. (180 kg), the Taurus 600 is designed for observatory-class optical systems, with a typical OTA aperture of 24 inches (0.6 m). The mount features a robust system for securely attaching and balancing large payloads. This includes a tine counterweight system that corrects imbalances from asymmetries in the optical tube and imperfect centering between the fork tines. The Taurus assembly instructions say a two-piece fork extension is included with the Taurus 600 so it can carry wider OTAs.

Mounting is aided by a built-in ratcheting system in the wedge, allowing the OTA to be attached while the forks are horizontal. This simplifies adjusting fork spacing, attaching the instrument, and achieving initial balance before raising the polar axis. The optional Scope Rail System provides further flexibility, letting you move instruments fore and aft along the optical axis to easily change or balance your imaging equipment.

A 400 lb. System: Installation, Power, and Internal Cabling

The Paramount Taurus 600 has a total weight of approximately 400 lb. (180 kg) and is designed for permanent observatory installation. To simplify assembly, the mount breaks down into five separate components, each weighing less than 100 lb. (45 kg), and a two-person team can assemble it in about one hour. The latitude is adjustable from 0° to 58°, with a fine azimuth adjustment range of ±2.5°.

The mount operates on 110-240V AC power at a 15A maximum draw, with an integrated power supply. All electronics and cables are housed inside the mount, with ample conduit space for routing additional user cables through the axes and up the fork arms, keeping the setup clean and free of snags.

Taurus 600 Fork vs. German Equatorial Mounts: The Meridian Flip Problem

The defining advantage of the Taurus 600's equatorial fork design is the complete elimination of the meridian flip. This single feature has profound implications for automated and remote imaging.

• German Equatorial Mount (GEM): A GEM must perform a 180-degree rotation (the meridian flip) as the target crosses the meridian. This interrupts imaging and has to be handled by the automation in a remote observatory.
• Paramount Taurus Fork: The Taurus tracks seamlessly from the moment an object rises until it sets. There are no interruptions for a flip and no flip to script.

A German equatorial mount may be easier to swap between very different optical tubes; the Taurus 600 is built around large instruments, with the optional Scope Rail System to change imaging equipment along the optical axis.