At last stargazing, astrophotography and enjoying the night sky can be less work and more fun for YOU! If you're looking for the ultimate in portable, high quality tracking, at a price that doesn't hurt your wallet, then the AstroTrac TT320 is for you!
The TT320 tracks the motion of the stars for up to 2 hours with high accuracy. This eliminates the usual star trails in fixed long exposure images of the night sky. It also removes the need to constantly re-adjust your manual alt-az mount.
With this very light and stable mount, you can use your DSLR camera to reveal the hidden depths and beauty of the night sky. It's the perfect product for anyone interested in wide field imaging with a camera and lens. It's also ideal for visual observers using a telescope at low and high magnifications. Because it's small and portable, you can take it anywhere you can take a camera and tripod, without the weight, awkward shape, and inconvenience of a traditional equatorial mount.
Configuration
The TT320 uses standard 3/8" 16 tpi photo threads so you can use it with your existing photo tripods and tripod heads. The following sections describe what you will need to use the AstroTrac TT320 for visual or photographic use.
Tripod
If you want a simple, ultra portable setup, for use with a camera and lens, or for use with a small refractor, a standard photo tripod will provide a sturdy enough platform for the TT320 and camera or small telescope. As a general guide, the lighter the camera or telescope mounted on the TT320, the lighter the supporting tripod and tripod head can be. Shorter focal length lenses and telescopes, providing wide field views, tend to be lighter in weight than longer focal length equipment which provides much smaller fields of view. If you want to use a heavier camera and lens, or a camera and telescope, you will need a more robust tripod designed specifically for astronomy. These types of tripod usually have a means of locking the legs in the open position to increase rigidity.
Mounting the TT320 on a Tripod
Wide field views require less accurate polar alignment than narrow field views. For wide angle lenses and short exposures of around a minute only rough polar alignment is required.
Accurate polar alignment requires a sturdy tripod and head to ensure polar alignment isn't compromised through flexure in the tripod or head.
Mounting a Camera or Scope on the TT320
Once again, depending on the weight of equipment you wish the TT320 to carry, there are a number of options open to you for mounting cameras and scopes.
Viewing or imaging the sky requires equipment to be pointed at a particular area of the sky and to be locked in position whilst tracking.
For lightweight cameras and lenses or small refractors, a low cost pan-tilt head may suffice. Larger cameras and telephoto lenses, or medium sized refractors will require a more robust mounting onto the TT320.
For heavier cameras and telescopes, an alt-az head such as the TeleOptic Giro Mini or William Optics Easy Touch provides a robust mounting which can be properly balanced.
Ease of use
Every aspect of the TT320 has been designed with ease of use in mind, from polar alignment, through compatibility with existing photo tripod kit to quick setup.
Anyone can use the TT320, from beginner to expert, whether astronomer, photographer or complete novice.
The AstroTrac unit is extremely small and light, so can be carried around and stored with ease.
The last thing you want in the middle of a long exposure photograph, or when viewing a planet at high power, is to knock the unit and upset tracking. The screw guard is illuminated so you can see it and avoid bumping into it in the dark.
An LED status light and beeper let you know exactly what is happening at all times.
The LED brightness and beeper volume buttons have five levels, including off. The control buttons are individually illuminated, making it easy to press the right one in the dark. To make your first session with the TT320 as productive as possible, we've included a laminated getting started guide, so you can be up and running in minutes.
Portability
Less than 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) in weight and less than 44 cm (17.5") long, the TT320 is extremely portable and can easily be carried with other equipment.
The AstroTrac unit can be easily carried in hand luggage and is within the new luggage size and weight restrictions.
Worldwide
Not only is the TT320 extremely portable, but its patent pending drive mechanism also makes it useable anywhere in the northern or southern hemispheres without the need to press buttons, flick switches or reprogram.
In the northern hemisphere, simply unstow the TT320 anticlockwise and you are ready for 2 hours precision tracking.
In the southern hemisphere, unstow the TT320 in the clockwise direction instead.
| Northern hemisphere | | | | | | | Southern hemisphere |
Polar alignment
The TT320 has a built in polar arm into which a polar scope locates to make polar alignment quick and easy. For transportation and storage the polar arm tucks away neatly between the drive arms.
The polar arm has convenient markings to show which way to unstow in the northern and southern hemispheres.
The polar arm rotates and clicks every 15 degrees, allowing the polar scope to be positioned with a unobstructed view of the Celestial Pole clear of cameras or telescopes. The TT320's polar arm is compatible with a wide range of polar scopes. Adapters are avaible.
Polar alignment is quick and easy. Simply insert the polar scope through the polar arm using the appropriate adapter. Rotate the polar scope until the reticle is correctly aligned. Then make fine adjustments to correctly align on the celestial pole.
Please note a polar scope and adapter is not included with the TT320. Please order them as separate items.
Operation
The TT320 has been designed to get you tracking as quickly as possible. Straight out of the box, mounted on your tripod, plugged into your power source and yur camera/telescope mounted. Swing the Motor Chassis to the appropriate geographical orientation.
Specifications
| Weight | under 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) |
| Load capacity | 10 kg (22 lb) |
| Operating voltage | 12 V DC |
| Operating current | approximately 0.2 A |
| Size (stowed) | 43.7 x 8.6 x 4.4 cm (17.2 x 3.4 x 1.7") |
Power
The long drive arms of the TT320 allow a small motor to drive a relatively large load. This reduces the power requirement such that the unit only pulls around 0.2 amps maximum at 12 V. With this low current draw, a typical 12 V, 7 Ah lead acid battery will provide almost 35 hours of running time! The low power requirement also means a much smaller battery pack will give you all the power you need for a typical night's viewing. The following table gives a rough guide to TT320 running time with popular 12 V lead acid, NiCad and NiMH battery packs:
| Battery Capacity (Ah) | Approximate TT320 Running time (hrs) |
| 7 | 35 |
| 1.1 | 5 |
The 12 V DC in jack socket is conveniently located on the back of the TT320, ensuring the power cable is kept well clear of hands, arms and equipment in the dark. A power lead is supplied with the TT320, with DC plug at one end and a standard cigarette lighter plug at the other, compatible with most power packs.
We strongly recommend that you fit the power pack with a 1 A fuse.
