Introducing the Paramount Series 6


Paramount Taurus 400

Introducing the new Taurus 400 Series 6 equatorial fork.

The Paramount Taurus 400 includes the advanced MKS 6000 telescope control system which lets you connect via USB C, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi.  The Instrument Panel offers high-power XT60 connectors and a pass-through Ethernet port.

Taurus equatorial fork mounts allow uninterrupted horizon-to-horizon imaging and accommodates Schmidt-Cassegrain or open-truss telescopes up to 17 inches (0.4 m).

Hardware Specifications

  • 150 lb. (68 kg) instrument capacity
  • All sky pointing accuracies at or below 30 arcseconds RMS (see Software Specifications below for details)
  • No meridian flips or dangling counterweights
  • Tracks objects up to six (6) hours beyond meridian
  • Maximum seven (7) arcseconds peak-to-peak periodic error before correction
  • After a one-time training, periodic error is 1 arcsecond, peak-to-peak or less
  • Optional 26-bit Renishaw encoders eliminate periodic error and the need for homing and operates in temps as low as –40° C
  • On-axis absolute encoders can be installed in the field
  • As there’s some confusion about what encoders can and cannot do, there’s an FAQ below that elaborates on that and whether they’re right for you
  • All electronics and through-the-mount cables are housed inside the mount with ample room for additional cables
  • Advanced MKS 6000 telescope control system lets you connect via USB C, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi
  • Three high-power XT60 ports on instrument panel
  • Belt-driven gears with spring loaded worm gears produce virtually zero backlash
  • Durable and fade-resistant red powder coating and black anodized finish; components are aluminum
  • Integrated azimuth and elevation polar-alignment adjustments
  • Counterweight system corrects imbalances from asymmetries in the optical tube and imperfect centering between fork tines
  • Optional Scope Rail System lets you easily change your imaging equipment by moving instruments fore and aft along optical axis
  • Clutch-free design helps maintain its TPoint™ assisted pointing accuracy
  • AutoHome™ homing capability ensures the mount always knows its orientation (after performing an initializing process called “homing” that typically takes less a minute or less)
  • Slews at 3.5 degrees per second in both axes; if you need faster slew speeds, check out our Taurus 500/600/700 direct-drive models
  • Exceptionally comfortable access to eyepieces
  • Power supply and PC-to-mount cabling included

Software Specifications  

  • Paramount’s unsurpassed pointing and tracking wouldn’t be possible without its TPoint™ and ProTrack™ software.
  • By employing TPoint’s calibration and telescope modeling tools, you’ll enjoy all sky pointing accuracies at or below 30 arcseconds RMS. Nothing outperforms that — and that’s without on-axis absolute encoders.
  • Operating in conjunction with TPoint™, ProTrack™ continuously updates the mount’s position across both axes to correct system-wide tracking errors including tube flexures, atmospheric refraction, polar misalignment, harmonic errors from mis-centered encoders, and more.
  • On-axis absolute encoders alone cannot correct such errors which exist with all telescopes. A properly applied telescope model is necessary to achieve superior tracking.
  • Without those encoders, 5-to-10-minute unguided exposures are common with many enjoying up to 20 minutes.
  • For more information about what encoders can and cannot do, please see the FAQ below.
  • All the included software is integrated into a single, easy-to-use, application consisting of TheSky™ Professional, TPoint™, Cameras+, Domes, Multi-OS+, and Weather modules. Enjoy the simplicity of controlling your cameras and astrophotography devices with one application.
  • It runs on Windows™, macOS™, and Linux.
  • Regardless of the operating system you run it on, it appears and operates identically. You can even switch between operating systems and its license allows up to six computers. Why paint yourself or your institution into a corner?
  • Absent ProTrack™ which is unique to Paramounts, the included software is sold separately as TheSky™ Universal bundle and represents a $1,095 value.

Note: Shown Paramount Taurus 400 Pier and telescopes are sold separately.  We can help you determine the optimal height of the pier for your setup.

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FAQs

See the Paramount Limited Warranty page for details about what's covered.

On-axis Absolute Encoders vs. Motor-based Encoders.

Paramount's equipped with on-axis absolute encoders know where they are at all times.  Paramount's with incremental encoders (or motor-based encoders) know only how far they have moved since they were initialized using a nightly process called homing.

The crucial additional difference is that the on-axis absolute encoders are fitted directly to the mount axes themselves, bypassing the worm drives.  Paramount's with incremental encoders are fitted to the worms instead, which means that with incremental encoders alone, periodic errors in the worm drive show up in the tracking.  These mounts must be calibrated and corrected using a process called periodic error correction (PEC), which measures and records the repeatable gear train errors and removes them.  (TheSky features advanced, multi-harmonic PE detection and PEC calibration that minimizes periodic error in mounts with incremental encoders.)

For mounts with incremental encoders, homing re-zeros the encoders when precise sensors on each of the axes are reached. From then on, the incremental encoders are in effect delivering absolute readings.

However, the crucial additional difference remains, namely that the incremental encoder system is behind the worm drive, and periodic error correction is still required to get the best out of the RA tracking.

High-resolution on-axis absolute encoder technology is significantly more expensive than incremental encoders.

The short answer is, “it depends.”

On-axis absolute encoders eliminate periodic error and enable the mount to always know where “home” is.

That’s convenient and expedites setup for an evening of imaging. However, with Paramounts, periodic error is already very low, and after a one-time training, it becomes negligible. Moreover, Paramount’s included Homing software homes in only 15 to 60 seconds.

So, at least with Paramounts, periodic error is practically non-existent and homing is a breeze.

What about pointing and tracking?

Without encoders, Paramounts routinely allow 5-to-10-minute unguided exposures; many have reported 20 minutes. Also without encoders, Paramount’s produce all sky pointing accuracies at or below 30 arcseconds RMS.

Absent Paramount’s exceptional software, that performance would not be possible. Operating in conjunction with TPoint™, ProTrack™ continuously updates the mount’s position across both axes to correct system-wide tracking errors including tube flexures, atmospheric refraction, polar misalignment, harmonic errors from mis-centered encoders and/or worm gears, and more.

On-axis absolute encoders alone cannot correct these errors which exist with all telescopes. A properly applied telescope model is necessary to achieve superior pointing and tracking.

So are on-axis absolute encoders right for you?

Perhaps if you want to enjoy the conveniences mentioned above. And for many, that’s enough.

With that said, the optional on-axis 26-bit Renishaw absolute encoders with 0.02 arc second precision are the finest available and they operate in temps as low as –40° C.

See the Paramount Lubrication Video for details how to lubricate gear-driven Paramount mounts.  (Log in required.)

Description

Is there a single-most important feature?

The coolest feature of our new Series 6 mounts is that they’re Paramounts.

While the new Series 6 refinements are nice, they pale in comparison to the highly desirable results that Paramounts are already known to deliver even without absolute encoders: all-sky pointing accuracy of 30 arcseconds RMS or better and unguided exposures as long as 20 minutes.1

That extraordinary performance would be impossible without Paramount’s integrated software. TPoint™ and ProTrack™ dynamically update the mount’s position across both axes to correct system-wide errors caused by tube flexure, atmospheric refraction, polar misalignment, mis-centered encoders and/or worm gears, and more.

While the optional on-axis absolute encoders eliminate periodic error, TPoint™ telescope modeling with ProTrack™ is required to correct all the errors mentioned above. (See Bisque.com for details.)

Paramounts routinely deliver unsurpassed pointing and tracking accuracy — with or without on-axis absolute encoders.

Paramounts are also known for their reliability and straightforward operation. They just go, night after night, as it should be!

Order yours today and enjoy owning a Paramount Taurus 400 Series 6, arguably one of the world’s finest robotic equatorial-fork mounts.

15-to-10-minute unguided exposures are more common.

Note: This Sky & Telescope magazine article involving the Taurus 400 might interest.

To see a beautiful example involving 20-minute unguided exposures, please click here. The astrophoto was shot using an older Paramount MX which did not have on-axis absolute encoders. While the Paramount MX was a gear-driven German equatorial mount, the gear-driven Taurus 400 equatorial mount delivers the same superior performance.

 

Additional information

Weight 150 lbs
Dimensions 36 × 36 × 16 in
Encoders

Motor-based encoders, On-axis absolute encoders

Paramount Taurus Specifications

Paramount Taurus Documentation

See also:

 

Paramount Taurus Technical Drawings

Enhance your Paramount Taurus 400 experience.

Superior accessories made by Software Bisque for your Paramount mount

  • Meade 16-inch OTA Mounting Rings

    Meade 16-inch OTA Mounting Rings

     $1,610.00
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  • Universal Adapter Plate

    Universal Adapter Plate

     $995.00
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  • TheSky Fusion

     $1,895.00
    Optional $100.00 each following year for the subscription benefits
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  • Paramount Taurus 400 Pier

     $1,495.00
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