iOptron’s SkyHunter is an ultra-compact EQ/AZ GoTo mount and using the SkyHunter mount for solar imaging or viewing is a great way to get that perfect image or video of the Annular Solar Eclipse on October 14, 2023 and the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Building on the success of the iOptron Cube AZ/EQ GoTo mount, the SkyHunter mount takes a giant next step as it is the lightest and most compact full function portable GoTo mount in iOptron’s history. Weighing in at only 2.9 lbs (including internal rechargeable battery), the SkyHunter is capable of supporting 11 lbs of payload in both equatorial and alt-azimuth modes.
The mount features four tracking rates, 1X or sidereal, 1/2X for sky and landscape combined, solar and lunar. All 4 tracking rates work in both northern and southern hemispheres and the mount can be controlled by an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet, an optional 8410 hand controller as well as a computer via ASCOM, INDI or embedded drive.
To show have the mount performs in viewing the Sun, iOptron has created a video to show how easy it is to use the SkyHunter mount for solar imaging and viewing. You can find the video below at the end of this article. And you can learn more about the mount’s capabilities here.
The Sun is more active than it’s been in years and if that’s not enough, we have the Annular Solar Eclipse on October 14, 2023 and the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024! If you’d like to learn more about the technology behind solar observing, solar imaging and more, you can check out our new monthly magazine – Solar Astronomy Today. It’s free to read, no subscription needed and available here. And if you are preparing for the upcoming eclipses and want to know your equipment options from solar glasses to the most out of this world solar viewing and imaging options, check out our free publication – The Definitive Guide to Viewing and Imaging the Sun – simply click here and enjoy reading!
And to make it easier for you to get the most extensive news, articles and reviews that are only available in the magazine pages of Astronomy Technology Today, we are offering a 1-year magazine subscription for only $6! Or, for an even better deal, we are offering 2 years for only $9. Click here to get these deals which only will be available for a very limited time. You can also check out a free sample issue here.