Vixen AXJ German Equatorial Mount

Designed as a complement to the AXD2 equatorial mount, the AXJ mount offers outstanding durability and precision and is the perfect mount for Professional Astronomers and Astrophotographers looking for a high payload, extremely accurate mount drive.

Periodic errors on mounts are usually measured and corrected by the user. Unlike the old StarBook controller, the StarBook 10 controller saves these errors permanently. The periodic error of the mount is measured in the factory (total of 12 points per 30 degrees worm gear) and corrected before delivery. This is known as V-PEC and functions automatically as soon as you use the mount. It delivers an accuracy of +/- 4.0 arc seconds. You can increase the tracking accuracy further by saving your own recorded periodic errors.

Vixen uses a new belt-drive system in the AXJ mount and the gear drive was replaced with a toothed belt. This gives the mount a quicker reaction time and lower backlash and also helps to minimize noise. The 6x20 polar finder scope is pre-installed into the mount. This allows the user to configure the polar alignment (for both the northern and southern hemispheres). The polar finder scope has a variable illuminated reticle with an automatic power-off function. The brightness can be adjusted in 8 levels so that the user can configure the desired brightness.

The mount has 2 bearing sets (4 pieces) which are used for the shaft of the RA axis. Thanks to the newly developed EQ design, the AXJ mount has a higher load capacity of 22 kg. As the motors, worm shaft and worm gear are located in the lower part of the mount, fewer counterweights are required than with conventional mounts and with some smaller OTA's no counterweight at all is required.

The StarBook 10 controller:
The StarBook 10 system contains more than 272,000 celestial objects, including 260,000 stars from the SAO catalogue, 109 Messier objects, 7840 NGC objects and 5380 IC objects, as well the soon, moon and planets. Objects can be accessed by name, and information such as images and data can be defined separately.

Mount Specs:

• Mount Type: German Equatorial
• Max Payload: 27kg (22kg Astrophotography)
• Accuracy of +/-4.0 arc seconds with V-PEC
• V-PEC (Vixen-Permanent Periodic Error Correction)
• Belt drive system (prevents backlash and minimizes noise)
• 14 ball bearings
• Polar alignment (variable fork fix type)
• Polar finder with reference star alignment
• StarBook 10 controller with autoguider input
• Retractable counterweight bar
• Net Mount Weight: 17.4 kg

• AXJ mount
• Starbook Ten controller
• 2 counterweights (3.7 kg and 1.5 kg)
• Note: Tripod not included.

Download the AXJ Mount Manual here