Altair Astro Observatory Telescope Pier

Product Description

The original Altair-SkyShed pier is the only pier which can be adjusted in tilt and 360 degree rotation AFTER installation and tightening down the base bolts. These unique structural and ergonomic features solve the most common issues of pier installation, distinguishing it from all other telescope piers.

The features of the SkyShed Pier also make it the best selling pier worldwide, of all-time. The design is the brainchild of Wayne Parker of SkyShed Inc., the worlds most prolific observatory manufacturer, and often purchased with SkyShed POD domes and roll-off observatories. The "metric" version of the Pier is made by Altair Astro in the UK but using slightly oversize metric steel and fasteners.

Altair SkyShed 8" Pier Unique Features:
Can be adjusted in levelling and rotation AFTER installation, for a perfect job.

225mm diameter (8 3/4 inches) steel tube with 6mm wall thickness, and 6mm thick steel support fins make this the stiffest pier in it's size range. More metal for your money. Compare the wall thickness to other piers sold in the UK. A heavy duty product, but still with low enough weight (45kg) for easy installation and moving. Adjustable in height from 36-38 inches (the optimum size range for small or large SCT's and refractors on an EQ mount).

Central through-hole 32mm diameter in base and mid-plate, allowing power and communications cable pass-through the base to the top-plate. Easy routing of cables - simply take the top cap off, pull them through and then fix it back on. No frustration, hunting for cables to pull through!

FREE FIXING Kit, choose "L-bolts" if pouring concrete, or "Straight bolts" if you want to drill holes in an existing surface such as a concrete pad to glue the threaded rods in with chemfix.

Anti Corrosion treatment. The pier is grit blasted, and then flame sprayed with a zinc metal coating for a better protection than normal galvanising. This product has marine durability. Our contractors use the same treatment for ship components. Even if you manage to chip off the powder-coating, the zinc anti-corrosion layer is fused with the steel. Your pier will last for many decades without corrosion.

Large, flat 320mm / 13" Dia baseplate, for easy access to the base bolts, with four stitch welded perimeter fins. 4x Massive 16mm bolts support the top pier plate cable of supporting well over a 1000kg in compression. Pre-drilled hole pattern for various pier adapters (see list below) as well as classic Meade and Celestron Fork mounts. Adapters available for most mounts (see compatibility list below). Perfect for any observatory dome or roll-off, including the Skyshed range.

Fitting a mount to the Pier
The top plate as supplied is multi holed to suite the EQ8 or some EQ wedges, the optional CNC multi mount adapter can be added from the dropdown list to fit the following list of mounts

Altair Sabre mount
iOptron CEM60, CEM40, GEM45 & iEQ45 Mounts
Skywatcher EQ6 & EQ6-R EQ6 (AKA Orion Atlas)
Skywatcher HEQ5 & EQ5
Skywatcher EQ3-2
Celestron CGEM
Celestron CGEM-DX
Celestron CG-5 & CG-4
Generic Chinese EQ5 mounts such as "Astro-5 EQ" mount
Meade LXD75 (due to mount model variations, please email us to confirm dimensions)
Several Vixen mounts (due to mount variations, please email us to confirm dimensions)

Special order
These piers are normally available at very short notice (7 days - often quicker), please contact us as due to the size and weight delivery prices can vary depending on location.