Description
The CEM70’s innovative center-balanced design mount puts the weight of the payload at the center of gravity, allowing greater natural stability and lighter weight – a nice benefit when setting up at a remote site. The equatorial head, not counting the standard equipment counterweight or tripod, weighs only 30 pounds (13.6 kg) for the highest payload to mount weight ratio in its category.
The mount is designed to operate in both northern and southern hemispheres at latitudes from 0 to 70. Twin adjustment knobs in the base of the mount let you fine-tune the azimuth alignment on the pole over a +/-8 arc. When using the CEM70 mount at latitudes below 10, a few simple adjustments of the unique variable position counterweight shaft lets you change the counterweight bar angle so the counterweight does not bump the tripod during use.
The standard equipment iPolar finder for quick and accurate polar alignment.
Optical tube mounting method: The spring-loaded mount head has an 8″ dual saddle that accepts both industry-standard Losmandy “D-Plate” and Vixen-style dovetails.
No tripod or pier supplied: Because of the CEM70’s ability to be used with a variety of scope types in both observatory and in-the-field situations, no tripod is supplied. This allows the purchaser to chose from a 48″ pier for semi-permanent use with catadioptric scopes and astrographs (#8030), a 42″ pier more suited to reflector use (#8033), and an adjustable height tripod with a maximum height of 52″. The tripod weighs 17.1 pounds (7.8 kg) and has 2″ diameter stainless steel legs. A spreader bar locks the tripod legs firmly in place during use. The tripod is very solid and stable, able to support the CEM70 equatorial head and even its heaviest rated payloads with ease.
Observing Tip:
Dont be fooled by the CEM70s imaging prowessthis is an outstanding mount for visual astronomy as well. Its high capacity makes it perfect for mounting large SCTs, long-focus refractors, or heavy binoviewer setups. The smooth stepper motors and ultra-quiet slewing are perfect for public outreach or solo planetary work, and with iPolar and GPS on board, setup time is minimal even at remote sites.
Final Thoughts:
Whether youre imaging faint galaxies at long focal lengths or spending the evening showing Saturn to your neighbors through a big Cassegrain, the CEM70 delivers the kind of precision, flexibility, and power that experienced astronomers demand. Its center-balanced design, massive payload rating, and thoughtful engineering details make it one of the most capable and transportable observatory-class mounts on the market today. If you’re ready to scale up without weighing yourself down, this is the mount to get.
Tech Details:
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