The GP-D2 mount has the appearance of the compact & portable GP-E mount, but with a higher level of performance & sturdiness. Throughout the World, this is a widely respected & enjoyed German equatorial mount for large telescopes & long-exposure imaging.
Smooth & stable operation derives from R.A. & Declination axes of durable steel with worm wheels of brass. This allows for telescope loads 44% greater than the GP-E. To minimize the periodic motion that affects tracking accuracy in astrophotography, these gears are machined to 2x the precision as that of the GP-E. All R.A. & Declination worm gears are individually inspected before assembly in Japan. The combination of high rigidity materials & high precision machining, dramatically increases the tracking accuracy of GP-D2 mounts.
Ready to handle your telescope, the mount body includes instruction manual, setting circles, internal illuminated polar axis scope with reticle for both hemispheres, bubble-level, fine adjustment knobs for altitude/azimuth, a 3.7-kg (8.2-lb), & 1.9-kg (4.2-lb) counter-weight, all standard. Your choice of single or dual motor hand controllers make this system complete for visual observationor long-exposure astrophotography. You can also opt for the fully computerized, motorized, goto Starbook S system.
To take full advantage of the load carrying capacity of the mount, additional counterweights are available and recommended for telescopes over 6kg (13. 2lb). Sturdy vibration da mp ening aluminum HAL 130 or Ash Wood tripods are recommended for this mount. To overcome the low eyepiece point encountered when observing at the zenith with long-tube refractors or Cassegrains, an optional GP Half Pillar extends the mount an additional distance above the HAL 130 tripod base.
