Northmere Keel dual alt-az mount, with steel tripod

Specifications

Description

The Keel is a heavy-duty manual alt-azimuth mount that carries up to 25 kg, split between two saddles. You can mount a large refractor on one side and a second telescope or a counterweight on the other, so both instruments point at the same target at once.

Large roller bearings in both axes give smooth motion under heavy loads. Friction is adjustable separately for each axis, so you can set the mount to move with a light touch and stay put when you let go. Both saddles accept Vixen-style and D-style dovetail bars.

A dual setup lets you compare views: a wide-field refractor next to a long-focus telescope, or a telescope next to binoculars on a secondary arm. With a single telescope, the second saddle holds a counterweight, which balances the head and gives smoother motion with heavy tubes.

The Keel uses setting circles on both axes, marked in degrees, which help you aim at objects using their altitude and azimuth from a planetarium app. Optional digital encoders fit the axes for push-to pointing, but the standard version uses no electronics and needs no power.

The head weighs 9.5 kg and attaches with a 3/8-16 thread or a central bolt. It needs a heavy tripod or a pier: a light photo tripod cannot support the combined weight of the head and two telescopes without shaking.

The Keel suits observers who prefer manual pointing with large refractors and catadioptric telescopes. Without counterweights on a single-telescope setup, keep the tube balanced on its saddle, since an off-center load puts more strain on the bearings.

For outreach events, the dual arrangement lets two people observe at the same time through different instruments aimed at the same object, which keeps a queue moving.

About this configuration

Each configuration of the Northmere Keel dual alt-az mount uses the same mount head; the options change what it stands on and what ships with it. The steel tripod gives a heavy, stable base that damps vibration quickly after you touch the focuser. A steel tripod adds weight to carry, but it settles fast when the wind picks up during a session. With a spare dovetail bar, you can fit a guide scope or a second instrument side by side.

The anodized red finish makes the clamps and knobs easier to find by touch and by red light. This is the 2024 edition, which revised the altitude adjustment and the cable routing of the Keel line. The payload rating in the specifications applies to the mount head in every configuration of the Keel line.

What's in the box

• Dual-saddle alt-az mount head
• Counterweight with adapter for the second saddle
• Setting circles for both axes
• Hex key set
• Steel tripod with accessory tray
• Spare 200 mm dovetail bar

Compatibility notes

• Both saddles accept Vixen-style and D-style dovetail bars.
• Needs a heavy tripod or pier rated for at least 35 kg total.
• Digital encoders for push-to pointing fit both axes.