Altair Sabre Alt-Azimuth Telescope Mount v3.0

Product Description

The Altair Sabre Alt-Azimuth telescope mount allows you to mount one or two telescopes side by side. This is the 2023 version of the Sabre Mount. In most respects the mount is the same, however the knobs are machined instead of knurled making them a little easier to grip. Compatibility with Altair TMS dovetail clamps remains the same and all components are forwards and backwards compatible, such as the swappable arms and so-on.

Sabre mount features
Point and see. No alignment required.
Next to zero setup time.
Smooth and easy to use.
No power required.
Compatible with most common tripods.
High capacity with excellent machining and fitting.
Stable astronomy or terrestrial observing with large or small scopes.
Compatible with Altair TMS dovetail clamps (very high end), or others with standard M8 / 35mm hole pattern.
Mount head weight of 3.2kg,

Point and see.
The Sabre mount has to be the easiest telescope mount ever! Just loosen the tension knobs, slew to the target (sky or land) and re-tighten the knobs. You can also partially tighten the knobs to give a little resistance so you can "nudge" the field of view for smaller adjustments. Intuitive, easy, simple.

Next to zero setup time.
Forget big batteries, power cables and all that hassle. Setup is simplicity itself, and no GOTO alignment is required. It's like a "Dobsonian" style conversion in that sense, and it works with Refractors, Schmidt Cassegrains, Maksutovs and Newtonian telescopes.

Smooth and easy to use.
Not only is setup easy, but slewing around the sky is smooth and enjoyable too. The Sabre has a smooth rotation and azimuth (up or down) action which can be controlled via the Alt and Az clutches. Friction dampening makes it easy to slew to objects by hand, just like a premium Dobsonian telescope. Not only is the Sabre for astronomy - pop an erect image diagonal into your astro telescope, and you have an amazing long distance land telescope.

Compatible with large or small scopes.
The Sabre mount is compatible with most Skywatcher / Orion / Synta / Viixen GP EQ6/5 tripods, Altair Tri-Pier, with the usual M10 thread. So you can get some use out of that old tripod. The Sabre mount comes with a long and a short arm for attaching Altair TMS dovetail clamps which hold the telescope. The long arm is used for longer or wide diameter optical tubes, helping with clearance. The wider gap between the mount centre helps the telescope clear the tripod for zenith viewing. The shorter arm is for smaller telescopes. The mount is configured with two long arms or two short arms. The most convenient setup is long and short for versatility. Additional arms can be purchased separately.

Dovetail clamps:
The Sabre mount basic model can be ordered with Altair TMS Dovetail clamps manufactured from 2004 to the present day, for customers preferring very high quality and strength. We have machined a special set of heavy duty Vixen dovetail clamps in-line with the capacity of the mount, and furthermore have Losmandy and Dual Vixen-Losmandy clamps available too. These connect by means of two M8 screws, with a very high capacity (provided with orders including the optional clamps). To use other dovetail clamps, the mount has a pair of 35mm centre-to-centre spaced M6 threaded holes on the end of each arm, which is a common configuration for most other dovetail clamps. Because they will not mar or damage the rail or plate on your telescope, we recommend the Altair TMS Vixen-format, Losmandy-format and Universal clamps, or a combination with one on each side. TMS clamps are also very strong, secure, and easy to use, allowing you to put the dovetail bar in from the side, instead of having to slide it in (an awkward procedure).

Counterweight:
A stainless steel counterweight shaft is available separately with a 20mm OD and 170mm length, appropriate threads for attachment, and machined end safety stop. This would fit counterweights by Skywatcher and iOptron with 20mm bore. The counterweights offered with the Skywatcher EQ3-2, EQ5 and iOptron iEQ30 mounts would be a nice budget option. You can order a Counterweight shaft in the dropdown menu.

Tripod compatibility:
The Sabre mount fits the Skywatcher HEQ5, EQ5 and EQ3-2 tripods directly, and most tripods with an M10 centre bolt protruding upwards, such as various models by Altair (TriPier), Berlebach, Vixen, Meade, Celestron, and other manufacturers.

Mount Capacity:
This is a common questions, and while an exact capacity is unknowable because it would have to take moment-arm and leverage of varying optical tubes into consideration, we expect that the mount itself will exceed the carrying capacity of the Skywatcher HEQ5 tripod as a commonly used "benchmark". We have many customers using the Sabre with a 6" refractor and a 10" metal tube Newtonian, with counterweights on the other side, who have stated they're quite happy with that setup. Although the mount probably could handle more weight, we officially recommend scopes such SCTs up 11", metal tube Newtonians up to 10", and refractors up to 6" in order to retain smoothness and a nice feel. Of course a 6" F15 refractor would have massive moment-arm so a reasonable length would be about F8 or so, for example the Altair 150EDF. With expensive or large optical tubes, we would recommend the heavy duty Altair TMS dovetail clamps, not budget clamps made from unknown alloys. We also recommend using the stainless steel hardware sold by Altair Astro and made in Germany, not stainless hardware bought on eBay and suchlike, because it is often quite brittle.

Weight:
Mount head weighs approx. 3.2kg with enough mass to absorb vibrations, but not so much as to hinder portability. Courier delivery costs are also more reasonable.