Motor drive for Sky-Watcher EQ-2 and Celestron CG-3 mounts
Observing the night sky has its own challenges - the Earth rotates relentlessly, and stars, planets and nebulae slowly drift out of your telescope's field of view. If you have ever spent minutes constantly nudging a mount to keep a target centered, you know exactly what we mean. The solution is the motor drive for Sky-Watcher EQ-2 and Celestron CG-3 mounts, which takes care of smooth, automatic tracking of objects in the sky so you can focus entirely on what matters - observing.
How it works
The motor drive is a motorized unit designed specifically for the right ascension axis of an equatorial mount. Once the mount is correctly polar-aligned, the motor compensates for Earth's rotation at a constant speed matching the sidereal rotation period (approximately 23 hours 56 minutes). The result is that the observed object remains virtually stationary at the center of the field of view throughout the entire observing session - with no manual intervention required.
This is especially appreciated at high magnifications, where even the slightest movement of the sky causes an object to escape from the eyepiece almost instantly.
Benefits for visual observation and astrophotography
Visual observation
- Objects remain centered in the eyepiece without constant manual corrections
- Noticeably more comfortable observing of planets, the Moon and deep-sky objects
- Particularly valuable at high magnifications
Astrophotography
- Allows longer exposures without star trailing caused by Earth's rotation
- Suitable for basic afocal photography through the eyepiece as well as camera-on-telescope setups
- For any serious astrophotography attempts on an EQ-2 or CG-3 mount, a motor drive is practically an essential piece of equipment
Designed specifically for EQ-2 and CG-3 mounts
This motor drive is engineered precisely for the Sky-Watcher EQ-2 and Celestron CG-3 equatorial mounts - two of the most widely used entry-level equatorial mounts on the market. Installation is straightforward: the motor attaches to the right ascension axis of the mount and is powered by a standard battery pack or mains adapter (depending on the specific version). Thanks to the dedicated mechanical connection matching the production specifications of these mounts, gear engagement is accurate and reliable.
A worthwhile upgrade for every EQ-2 or CG-3 owner
Whether you are a beginner astronomer who has just purchased your first telescope on an EQ-2 mount, or a more experienced observer looking to get the most out of your current setup - the motor drive for EQ-2 and CG-3 is a logical and affordable improvement. It significantly enhances every visual observing session of planets, the Moon and deep-sky objects, and opens the door to your first astrophotography experiments. It is one of the most effective upgrades you can make for your telescope on an equatorial mount.
Compact, easy to install, simple to use
The motor drive is compact, easy to install and straightforward to operate - the ideal combination for anyone who wants to spend more time actually observing and less time fighting objects that drift out of the eyepiece.
