Enhance your astronomical pursuits with the Sky-Watcher EQ8-Rh Pro Mount Head – your gateway to precision astrophotography and stargazing. This high-performance mount head, complete with counterweights, offers unparalleled stability and tracking accuracy for capturing celestial wonders. Explore the cosmos with confidence, whether you're an astrophotographer or a seasoned astronomer, and unlock the full potential of your telescope setup with the EQ8-Rh Pro Mount Head from Sky-Watcher.

110-pound (50 kg) Payload

All-metal precision internal construction makes this mount extremely strong and stable. The EQ8-R is a perfect fit for even the largest OTAs Sky-Watcher has to offer and is designed to thrive in your permanent or semi-permanent personal observatory.

Belt-drive On Both Axes

Streamlined design and improved motor positioning allows for dual belt drives providing minimal backlash and significantly reduced periodic error which means smoother, more accurate tracking.

Integrated Cable Management System An integrated thru-mount cabling system contributes to the overall sleekness and efficiency while the internal USB hub, power, and serial ports eliminate cable drag and reduces the worry of cable snags.

On-axis Renishaw Encoder

A Renishaw incremental 11.8 million tick encoder is installed on the RA axis of the EQ8-Rh, virtually eliminating periodic error and solidifying the status of the EQ8-Rh as an imminently precise, observatory-class mount for the advanced research astronomer or astrophotographer.

Pier Tripod NOT included

Building on the legacy of Sky-Watcher’s popular EQ8 mount, the EQ8-R introduces a variety of upgrades and enhancements that make observatory-class astrophotography easier than ever. Upgrades include a more streamlined design with balanced motor positioning, a sleek thru-mount cable management system and repositioned power hub with a more ergonomic feel to your setup and workflow. Also included are a powered USB 3.0 hub extension, an internal USB hub, larger saddle knobs for ease of use in cold weather, homing sensors to keep your mount oriented, physical hard stop to prevent cable snap, larger locking levers for ease of use, thread-on aircraft power connector for a secure connection, PC direct control, PPEC training for tack sharp images, and more!

Whisper-quiet dual belt drives greatly reduce periodic error while providing enhanced tracking and guiding. Gears measuring over eight inches in diameter help handle large payloads and provide smooth tracking. The fully realized cable management system eliminates cable drag and makes remote setups ridiculously convenient.

For users already familiar with previous Sky-Watcher mounts, the EQ8-R is a substantial upgrade, but with familiar features that will help dampen the learning curve. This is an observatory-class mount designed to be controlled PC Direct or even completely remote and yet, the EQ8-R can still be run by the tried-and-true SynScan V5 hand controller with a 42,000+ object database. Two large carrying handles make set up and takedown less awkward. Other features include a super sturdy adjustable portable pier tripod, D-style dovetail saddle, two 22-pound counterweights, DC power cord, and built-in USB PC control.

Specifications