SolarQuest review
- pedro
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SolarQuest review
The new Sky-Watcher SolarQuest is a great AZ mount for outreach
I used it today for the first time and it is a great performer for little money. The sun stayed dead centre for 4h after first alignment
Check out a few images below and a YouTube video as well
Sky-Watcher SolarQuest Mount | Pedro RE' (20181002)
Pointing to the Sun Automatically
1. Turn on power. The SolarQuest will level the solar telescope automatically and then takes up to 2 minute to acquire GPS lock before the next movement.
2. The SolarQuest will bring the solar telescope to the elevation of the Sun and starts slewing in clockwise in the azimuth direction to search for the Sun.
3. The red LED will blink slowly during the search and becomes solid after the SolarQuest mount locates the Sun successfully.
4. Use the 8-way slide switch to centre the Sun in the FOV of the eyepiece. It is normal to find lags in movement when switching to an opposite direction.
Tips:
• Before turning on power, point the solar telescope to the left side of the Sun can reduce the searching time.
• Use a long focal length eyepiece (eg. 20mm) to start observing.
(...)
SolarQuest is user-friendly and provides safe experience while observing the sun. Using Skywatcher’s revolutionary technology “Heliofind”, it can be easily operated by anyone, with just a push of a button, SolarQuest will start slewing in clockwise in the azimuth direction to search for the sun!
If the tripod is moved by accident, users can easily restart, and it will quickly find the sun.
- Built in GPS & 3 axis accelerator enhance the accuracy of alignment
- Automatic solar alignment
- Light weight
- Beginner friendly
- Eight-way slide switch provides smooth slewing to centre the sun in the eyepiece
Specifications:
Tripod Height 1.3 m
Tripod Weight 2.4 kg
Power Supply 8 "AA" Size Batteries
I used it today for the first time and it is a great performer for little money. The sun stayed dead centre for 4h after first alignment
Check out a few images below and a YouTube video as well
Sky-Watcher SolarQuest Mount | Pedro RE' (20181002)
Pointing to the Sun Automatically
1. Turn on power. The SolarQuest will level the solar telescope automatically and then takes up to 2 minute to acquire GPS lock before the next movement.
2. The SolarQuest will bring the solar telescope to the elevation of the Sun and starts slewing in clockwise in the azimuth direction to search for the Sun.
3. The red LED will blink slowly during the search and becomes solid after the SolarQuest mount locates the Sun successfully.
4. Use the 8-way slide switch to centre the Sun in the FOV of the eyepiece. It is normal to find lags in movement when switching to an opposite direction.
Tips:
• Before turning on power, point the solar telescope to the left side of the Sun can reduce the searching time.
• Use a long focal length eyepiece (eg. 20mm) to start observing.
(...)
SolarQuest is user-friendly and provides safe experience while observing the sun. Using Skywatcher’s revolutionary technology “Heliofind”, it can be easily operated by anyone, with just a push of a button, SolarQuest will start slewing in clockwise in the azimuth direction to search for the sun!
If the tripod is moved by accident, users can easily restart, and it will quickly find the sun.
- Built in GPS & 3 axis accelerator enhance the accuracy of alignment
- Automatic solar alignment
- Light weight
- Beginner friendly
- Eight-way slide switch provides smooth slewing to centre the sun in the eyepiece
Specifications:
Tripod Height 1.3 m
Tripod Weight 2.4 kg
Power Supply 8 "AA" Size Batteries
- Attachments
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Re: SolarQuest review
Thanks for the overview! Looks like a nice little portable alt az tracking mount in general. The SW AZ GTi GoTo with a solar tracker basically. That's pretty cool. Would likely be great for full disc imaging too, eclipses, etc, with smaller scales. Also great for nighttime use too.
Very best,
Very best,
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
Thanks Marty
It is a great mount and the Heliofind works flawlessly. It is impressive what this little mount can do for less than 400 US$
It is great for solar outreach sessions and solar eclipses as well
It is a great mount and the Heliofind works flawlessly. It is impressive what this little mount can do for less than 400 US$
It is great for solar outreach sessions and solar eclipses as well
Re: SolarQuest review
I was looking at the standard version of this mount for simple observation with a small scope even. Getting it with a sun tracking module just puts the icing on the cake. I'll eventually get one I think! Super portable!
Very best,
Very best,
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
Hi Marty
You will love it. It is an excellent performer and it works flawlessly
You will love it. It is an excellent performer and it works flawlessly
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
still tracking the sun (3h and counting)
solarquest_20181003-06 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
solarquest_20181003-08 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
solarquest_20181003-04 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr



- eroel
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Re: SolarQuest review
Pedro:
Thanks for the super review of the little mount.
The only problem for solar imaging would be the image rotation when making long recordings.
For outreach use it is super.
Fuerte abrazo,
Eric.
Thanks for the super review of the little mount.
The only problem for solar imaging would be the image rotation when making long recordings.
For outreach use it is super.
Fuerte abrazo,
Eric.
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
Thanks Eric
You're right, but with videos of about 10s maybe it will be OK
It tracks the sun like a charm
fuerte abrazo
You're right, but with videos of about 10s maybe it will be OK
It tracks the sun like a charm
fuerte abrazo
-
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Re: SolarQuest review
Has anyone tried the field de-rotation feature in AutoStakkert? Seems like it should be able to compensate, however I've never tried it (don't have an alt-az mount).
- Montana
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Re: SolarQuest review
Thanks for a great review! It looks very similar to my Merlin mount I use for the PST and travelling with which I really love. Pity I don't have a solar tracker on it as well 
Alexandra

Alexandra
- ffellah
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Re: SolarQuest review
Hi Pedro: thank you for the detailed report on this mount. It sure looks like a very good value for the money.
Franco
Franco
- marktownley
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Re: SolarQuest review
Looks good Pedro!

http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
Ré, P. (2018). Sky-Watcher SolarQuest Mount. PDF File
http://www.astrosurf.com/re/solarquest_ ... 181008.pdf
http://www.astrosurf.com/re/solarquest_ ... 181008.pdf
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
Tried the SolarQuest today for the first time with cloudy skies. The sun stayed in the field of view for about 4h but tracking was less accurate. Still works though with cloudy skies
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
Another observing session with the SolarQuest mount and cloudy skies
After first alignment (Heliofind) it helps to cover the solar sensor.
solar_imaging_session_20181013-02 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
solar_imaging_session_20181013-079 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
solar_imaging_session_20181013-075 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
solar_imaging_session_20181013-074 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
solar_imaging_session_20181013-047 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
solar_imaging_session_20181013-044 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
solar_imaging_session_20181013-043 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
After first alignment (Heliofind) it helps to cover the solar sensor.







- marktownley
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Re: SolarQuest review
How does it track in cloudy skies Pedro?

http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
It tracks Ok Mark
It helps to cover the solar sensor if it is very cloudy. To track the Sun the mount has to detect our star at least once.
Here are a a few images of my grab and go solar scopes to use with the SolarQuest mount
1- FS60C, Coronado SM60, Coronado BF10, Lunt Zoom eyepiece
2- Baader Vario Finder (10x60), Coronado SM40, Coronado BF10, Lunt Zoom eyepiece
taka_FS60C_SM40_BF10_20181014-09 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
taka_FS60C_SM40_BF10_20181014-05 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
taka_FS60C_SM40_BF10_20181014-04 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
taka_FS60C_SM40_BF10_20181014-01 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
baader_vario_finder_10X60_SM40_BF10_20181014-06 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
baader_vario_finder_10X60_SM40_BF10_20181014-04 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
baader_vario_finder_10X60_SM40_BF10_20181014-02 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
It helps to cover the solar sensor if it is very cloudy. To track the Sun the mount has to detect our star at least once.
Here are a a few images of my grab and go solar scopes to use with the SolarQuest mount
1- FS60C, Coronado SM60, Coronado BF10, Lunt Zoom eyepiece
2- Baader Vario Finder (10x60), Coronado SM40, Coronado BF10, Lunt Zoom eyepiece







- marktownley
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Re: SolarQuest review
It just carries on tracking when the sensor is covered then Pedro?

http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
Re: SolarQuest review
Came across this one, so it is not mine. Could save you some money if you are interested in the mount.
https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=14205
https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=14205
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
Yes Mark, It tracks fine with the sensor covered. However the mount has to find the sun ate least once to star tracking
It does a decent job even with the sensor covered
It does a decent job even with the sensor covered
Re: SolarQuest review
Sorry, you are right!pedro wrote: ↑Wed Oct 17, 2018 3:26 pmBart: I guess you were referring to this add
https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propvie ... iew=142055
Thanks Pedro.
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/user/r ... review.pdf
SolarQuest review (BBC Sky at Night Magazine)
We were very impressed with the SolarQuest mount. It’s so simple to use and performed very accurately in our trials. It alleviates the need to polar align during the day, something which can’t be done with precision unless you have a permanent set-up. In this respect it suits casual solar observing well but really excels for things like public events where there are typically a lot of eager viewers wanting to take a peek at the Sun. Eliminating the need for constant repositioning, the SolarQuest makes setting up for such events a breeze. Most personal solar observing sessions last less than an hour and we found that the unit would hold a very accurate position for far longer than this. Exceptions may occur if, for example, you were using an H-alpha telescope and monitoring for flare activity. This would normally be done by setting up the telescope and watching for increases in X-ray output from sources such as the GOES X-ray satellite. Here, the ability to have a quick and simple mount tracking accurately for extended periods would be incredibly useful.
SolarQuest review (BBC Sky at Night Magazine)
We were very impressed with the SolarQuest mount. It’s so simple to use and performed very accurately in our trials. It alleviates the need to polar align during the day, something which can’t be done with precision unless you have a permanent set-up. In this respect it suits casual solar observing well but really excels for things like public events where there are typically a lot of eager viewers wanting to take a peek at the Sun. Eliminating the need for constant repositioning, the SolarQuest makes setting up for such events a breeze. Most personal solar observing sessions last less than an hour and we found that the unit would hold a very accurate position for far longer than this. Exceptions may occur if, for example, you were using an H-alpha telescope and monitoring for flare activity. This would normally be done by setting up the telescope and watching for increases in X-ray output from sources such as the GOES X-ray satellite. Here, the ability to have a quick and simple mount tracking accurately for extended periods would be incredibly useful.
Re: SolarQuest review
Hi Pedro,
thanks for the very interesting review.
Just a question, do you think the Solarquest mount would be ok for the Coronado Solar Max III double stack 70 mm telescope with eyepiece inserted? Too much weight for this little mount or it will be ok? I would use it only for grab and go visual view, no imaging or other more complex utilizations.
Thank you very much
Piemme
thanks for the very interesting review.
Just a question, do you think the Solarquest mount would be ok for the Coronado Solar Max III double stack 70 mm telescope with eyepiece inserted? Too much weight for this little mount or it will be ok? I would use it only for grab and go visual view, no imaging or other more complex utilizations.
Thank you very much
Piemme
- pedro
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Re: SolarQuest review
Hi Piemme
Maximum weight for the solarquest mount is 4Kg. I guess you can go up to 5 or 6Kg without damaging the mount. I have never exceeded 4Kg with my mount
Maximum weight for the solarquest mount is 4Kg. I guess you can go up to 5 or 6Kg without damaging the mount. I have never exceeded 4Kg with my mount
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