Product Overview
Skywatcher AL-EQ55i Mount + Evostar 72 APO Refractor Telescope Combo
Compact Astrophotography Excellence
Capture stunning astrophotos with a portable yet powerful astrophotography system, combining the precision Skywatcher AL-EQ55i mount and the Skywatcher Evostar 72 APO Refractor (72mm aperture, 420mm focal length, f/5.8 optics).
Versatile Field of View
With a DSLR or APS-C-sized camera sensor (approx. 23.5mm × 15.6mm), you’ll achieve a wide field of approximately 3.2° × 2.1°.
Using a square sensor like the popular ASI533MC-Pro yields roughly 1.5° × 1.5°, ideal for framing mid-sized celestial targets.
Great Astrophotography Targets Year-Round
- Spring: Markarian’s Chain (galaxy cluster)
- Summer: North America Nebula (NGC 7000)
- Fall: Veil Nebula complex (NGC 6960 & 6992)
- Winter: Rosette Nebula (NGC 2244)
Technical Highlights
- Mount: AL-EQ55i for accurate tracking and easy transport.
- Telescope: Evostar 72 APO features premium optics delivering crisp, color-accurate stars without chromatic aberration.
- Compact & Lightweight: Ideal for travel and quick setup.
What is included in the package:
- AL-EQ55 Mount
- Skywatcher Evostar 72 Doublet
- Power Supply
- Red Flashlight
- Starfield 32mm Guide package with ASI120MM-Mini
- Starfield 1.0x Field Flattener
*Pier extension, DSLR Camera mount, Hand Controller sold separately
The Skywatcher AL-EQ55 Mount
The EQ-AL55i Pro is the perfect entry to intermediate level equatorial platform for observers and imagers looking to build a serious rig without breaking the bank.
Redesigned from the popular EQM-35 the EQ-AL55i features fully encased motor housings and two positions for the counterweight bar and optional pier extension making this mount the perfect choice for observers and imagers in lower latitudes.
Featuring Wi-Fi, Bluetooth SynScan, and ASCOM telescope control, 22-pound payload capacity, a guidescope and SNAP port, the EQ-AL55i is a perfect choice for a mid-size imaging mount.
This versatile mount is equipped with a two-position adjustable counterweight bar, allowing it to be used at all latitudes from 0° to 90° and thus avoiding the problems that arise with most other mounts at extreme polar altitudes. It is therefore an ideal travelling mount!
The EQ-AL55i is fully controlled with a smartphone via the built-in WLAN module and the free SynScan Pro app software. This app is available for iOS and Android.The EQ-AL55i Pro mount is equipped with an illuminated polar finder scope for precise alignment to the celestial pole.
It offers connections for USB-C, autoguider and an optionally available SynScan hand control box. It also has a socket for triggering a DSLR camera.
The EQ-AL55i Pro is a very portable mount for mobile astrophotographers, but also for visual observers.
- Mount type: Equatorial with Go-To
- Load capacity: 10kg
- Slew speed: Up to 4° per second
- Power input: 12V DC
- Autoguider port: ST4
- Protocols: SynScan, ASCOM via Wi-Fi or USB
- Weight: 14.8kg
The Skywatcher Evostar72
Sky-Watcher’s Evostar apochromatic doublet refractors are the perfect blend of superior extra-low dispersion glass and affordability. The Evostar refractor lens assembly utilizes a proprietary combination of matched lenses, delivering tack-sharp stars with charcoal-black, contrast-rich skies. All ED glass elements are fluorite-based and feature our proprietary Metallic High-Transmission Coatings™ (MHTC™), virtually eliminating all false color while the internal baffle helps prevent stray light from affecting your photography. Like the optics, the tube is beautifully crafted using aluminum and finished with a black diamond metal-flake finish.
Using a doublet refractor instead of a triplet has some advantages: less glass means less weight, less weight means a less expensive telescope, so you can dedicate more money for your camera or laptop while benefiting from a lightweight astrophotography rig.
The Evostar 72ED comes in a foam-lined aluminum case with tube rings and a V-style dovetail plate.
Enhance Your Setup with the ZWO ASIAIR Pro
To elevate this astrophotography kit even further, consider adding the ZWO ASIAIR Pro. This innovative device streamlines your imaging sessions by offering effortless camera control, precise auto-guiding, plate-solving, and live stacking—all via an intuitive smartphone or tablet interface. The ASIAIR Pro complements this portable setup perfectly, making astrophotography more enjoyable and efficient in the field.
