Mount Guide
| Key Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Mount Type | GoTo Equatorial |
| Payload | 13kg maximum |
| Tracking | Fully computerised GoTo |
| Hand Controller | SynScan GoTo + smartphone app |
| Object Database | 40,000+ named objects |
| Polar Alignment | Manual via Polaris; laser pointer included |
| Power | 8 AA batteries (or 12V external) |
| Worm Drives | Steel, motorised RA and Dec |
| Weight (head) | ~15kg |
| Tripod | Sturdy tripod required (not included) |
| Best For | GoTo observing, imaging, serious visual work |
The HEQ5 Pro is the standard mount for intermediate to advanced observers wanting computerised tracking without the cost or complexity of fully professional gear. It's the sweet spot — GoTo convenience, excellent payload, and a price that won't trigger spousal arguments.
If you hate computers and love star charts, the EQ5 Pro is better (and cheaper). If you want the absolute heaviest payload, professional mounts cost double. But if you want GoTo done right at a reasonable price, the HEQ5 Pro is untouchable.
Yes — the HEQ5 Pro is the standard entry point for serious amateur astrophotography in the UK. With 13kg payload, SynScan GoTo, and ASCOM/INDI compatibility, it works with PHD2 autoguiding software and most dedicated astro cameras. A 150mm refractor or 200mm Newtonian paired with a ZWO or QHY camera on the HEQ5 Pro is the setup thousands of UK imagers use.
For visual observing, it's equally capable. The SynScan hand controller and smartphone app let you browse 40,000+ objects and slew to them automatically. It finds and centres a target in a wide-field eyepiece, then tracks it across the sky without nudging. Most users report that tracking stays accurate enough to hold a target in a high-power eyepiece for 15–20 minutes between small corrections.
Polar alignment is required every session (10 minutes with the built-in laser pointer), after which the GoTo accuracy is typically within a few arcminutes. Battery life is 6–8 hours on 8 AA batteries — carry spares for all-night sessions, or run from a 12V portable power station.
A 120mm or 150mm refractor (8–10kg) is perfectly balanced on the HEQ5 Pro. Excellent for planetary and deep-sky work.
A 200mm or 250mm reflector (6–10kg, tube only) is stable and versatile. Ideal for planetary, nebula, and cluster work.
A Maksutov-Cassegrain or Schmidt-Cassegrain plus camera = ~8–10kg. Perfect for dedicated planetary imaging.
One scope, automatic finding, all night. Spend time observing, not hunting. This is why people buy GoTo.
The HEQ5 Pro handles 13kg, but the practical sweet range is 6–11kg. Heavier scopes still track fine but ask more of the motors during slews.
GoTo done right at mid-range prices. Cloudy Nights and Stargazers Lounge users consistently rank the HEQ5 Pro as the best value GoTo mount under £600.
Reliability is excellent. Users report decade-long ownership with few failures. The SynScan hand controller is particularly robust.
Smartphone app is genuinely useful. The ability to command the mount from your phone beats hunting through a hand controller menu in the dark.
Tracking accuracy is solid. For visual observing, it tracks smoothly enough that objects stay in the eyepiece during medium and high magnification. Not planetary-tier precision, but excellent.
Polar alignment with the laser pointer is a game-changer. Much easier than manual Polaris finder alignment.
Battery life is reasonable. Owners report 6–8 hours per set of AA batteries. Carry spares for all-night sessions.
EQ5 Pro (£300): Manual mount. No GoTo. Requires star-hopping. Buy this if you love charts or want to save money. Excellent learning mount.
HEQ5 Pro (around £1,039): GoTo mount. Automatic finding. No star-hopping. Buy this if you value efficiency and have limited dark sky time. Best mid-range GoTo mount.
The price difference is real money, but many observers find the convenience worth every penny. It depends on your patience and what you want from the hobby.
The HEQ5 Pro is over-engineered for pure visual use — if you only ever look through an eyepiece and enjoy star-hopping, the EQ5 Pro saves you £340. Pay for the HEQ5 Pro because you want GoTo convenience, because you plan to image, or because your dark sky time is limited enough that manually hunting faint objects wastes the session.
If you've spent a year on a manual mount and want GoTo, this is the natural upgrade. If you're new and budget is a concern, the EQ5 Pro is the honest recommendation — but most observers who buy the HEQ5 Pro use it for a decade without wishing they'd bought something different.