Home

More about this product

Download instructions (PDF)

Curved secondary mount FAQ

How to order secondary mounts

Products

4-vane mounts

3-vane mounts

Curved mounts

Telescope tubes

Pyrex secondary mirrors

ULS Quartz mirrors

Flocked light trap mat'l

Flocked tube liners

Support

General ordering information

Dimensions & specs

Download manuals

Foreign orders

Warranty & returns

Privacy policy

Download catalog

Contact us

Features:

Eliminates concentrated diffraction artifacts (i.e., diffraction spikes).
Low total diffraction design.
Fully adjustable positioning within the optical tube.
Easy-to-access collimation adjustment screws.
Two mirror mounting methods to accommodate any mirror size.
Made from corrosion-proof materials.
Graphite-impregnated flat black finish for low light scatter.
Includes mounting hardware and installation instructions.

Note: Curved mounts can only be installed in solid-tube telescopes up to 15" inside diameter.

Protostar curved mounts are available for secondary mirror sizes up to 2.14", and solid tubes with inside diameters up to 15-inches. They not only eliminate diffraction spikes (see diffraction comparison image), but also minimize total diffraction. The arch is made of thin stainless steel, and the 180º curve symmetrically spreads diffraction. Rigidity is maintained by the unique tapered design of the arch, and larger sizes feature a bonded-laminated arch. The arch is also invisible directly from the focal plane, which eliminates direct scattered light from the secondary support.

Fully adjustable positioning

Two brackets attach the arch support to the tube wall, and each bracket is fully adjustable for variations in tube size. This also permits custom secondary offsets where necessary. Each bracket can also be rotationally adjusted to insure the arch is perfectly edge-on to the primary mirror to further minimize diffraction.

Read more about how to install and use the curved mounts in the illustrated installation instructions (975 kB pdf).

Same easy collimation features as our straight-vane mounts

The curved mount features the same simplified collimation adjustment design of our straight-vane mounts. Read more about the collimation features on the straight-vane mountings for a complete description.

Technical highlights

For a complete discussion of the technical aspects of our curved secondary mount, please refer to the curved secondary mount FAQ. Made in the U.S.A.

Each kit includes:

curved arch support	collimation tool
mirror holder assy	mirror spacers
mounting brackets	mounting hardware
instructions	drill bit & template

Read how to order secondary mounts...

Prices include both the support arch and mirror holder.

The tube inside diameter (ID) ranges shown in the table are for pricing purposes only, and the curved mounts are not adjustable over this wide range. Your curved mount will fit your exact tube requirements. When ordering, please provide the actual tube inside diameter.

The dimensions in the table are in inches.

Note: Spiders are custom-made for your inside diameter (ID), and are not adjustable over the ranges shown in the table below. When ordering, provide the information described on the ordering information page.

Secondary size (minor axis)	6.0" to 10.5" tube ID	10.51" to 15.0" tube ID
0.75"	$90.00	$96.00
1.00"	$90.00	$96.00
1.30"	$94.00	$106.00
1.52"	$98.00	$110.00
1.83"	$102.00	$114.00
2.14"	$106.00	$120.00