Sky-Watcher EQ-AL55i Pro GoTo Equatorial Mount

A 22lb GoTo equatorial mount you can carry out in one trip

The Sky-Watcher EQ-AL55i Pro is a computerized German equatorial mount for visual observing and entry-level to intermediate astrophotography. Sky-Watcher redesigned it from the EQM-35 with fully enclosed motor housings and two positions for the counterweight bar. It comes with an adjustable steel-leg tripod, two counterweights and an illuminated polar scope, and you control it from your phone over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, from a laptop, or with the optional SynScan hand controller.

Key specs: 22lb (10kg) payload · 8.2lb (3.7kg) head · 0–90° latitude range · Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, SynScan Pro app · 42,000+ object database · illuminated polar scope · autoguide (ST-4), SNAP and USB-C ports · 7.5lb and 4lb counterweights included · Vixen-style (V) saddle

What you can do with it

• Wide-field deep-sky imaging: with a small refractor or a fast astrograph, frame the Orion Nebula, the North America Nebula, the Heart and Soul Nebulae and the Andromeda Galaxy.
• Galaxies at moderate focal lengths: with guiding, a 400mm to 600mm refractor reaches the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), Bode's and the Cigar Galaxies (M81 and M82) and the Leo Triplet.
• Visual observing with GoTo: pick the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, double stars or clusters in the app and the mount finds and tracks them at sidereal, lunar or solar rate.
• The Sun: with a proper solar filter on your telescope, solar tracking keeps sunspots centered.

Setup

Set up the tripod, mount the head and level it. Here along the Front Range we sit at about 40° north, so set the latitude scale to your site and polar align with the illuminated polar scope, or with the polar alignment routine in the SynScan Pro app or your imaging software. Slide on the counterweights, balance the telescope in both axes, and connect your phone to the mount's Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. After a short star alignment, the mount goes to your targets and tracks them.

Two counterweight-bar positions and an optional pier extension give extra clearance between the telescope and the tripod legs, which helps with longer telescopes and at low latitudes. For imaging, add a guide scope and camera to the ST-4 port, use the SNAP port to trigger a DSLR or mirrorless camera, or connect a laptop to the USB-C port and run the mount through ASCOM.

What to add for the best results

• A telescope (required): the optical tube isn't included. Good matches are the Sky-Watcher HAC125DX f/2 astrograph (8.4lb), the William Optics RedCat 51 III and the Tele Vue-85. Keep the telescope, camera and accessories under 22lb, and well under it for long exposures.
• Celestron PowerTank Lithium Pro (or another 12V supply, required): the mount runs on 9 to 12.6V DC through a 2.1mm plug. A DC power cord is included; the battery or AC supply is not.
• ZWO 30F5 guide scope and ASI220MM Mini guide camera: autoguiding through the ST-4 port keeps stars round in multi-minute exposures.
• ZWO ASIAIR Plus 256GB: runs your camera, guiding, plate solving and focusing from your phone. Ask us about connecting it to the mount.

EQ-AL55i Pro vs. Wave strain wave mounts

See all equatorial mounts.

What's in the box

• Sky-Watcher EQ-AL55i Pro mount head with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Adjustable steel-leg tripod
• 7.5lb and 4lb counterweights with counterweight bar
• Illuminated polar scope
• DC power cord

The telescope, 12V power supply, SynScan hand controller and pier extension are sold separately.

Sky-Watcher EQ-AL55i Pro FAQ

Is the EQ-AL55i Pro good for beginners?

Yes, if you want to learn equatorial imaging. The SynScan Pro app walks you through alignment and GoTo. You'll need to learn polar alignment and balancing, which we're happy to show you at the store.

What telescopes will it carry?

Anything under its 22lb (10kg) rating with camera and accessories, such as an 80mm to 100mm refractor, a 5" astrograph like the HAC125DX or a 130mm to 150mm Newtonian. For the sharpest long exposures, stay at about two-thirds of the rating.

Do I need the hand controller?

No. The mount has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and works with the free SynScan Pro app on iOS and Android. The SynScan hand controller is optional for people who prefer physical buttons.

Can I autoguide with it?

Yes. It has an ST-4 (RJ-12) autoguide port, and it can also be guided over USB with ASCOM software such as PHD2 on a laptop.

What power does it need?

9 to 12.6V DC through a 2.1mm plug. A PowerTank Lithium Pro works well in the field. The power supply isn't included.

EQ-AL55i Pro or Wave 100i?

Both carry about 22lb. The EQ-AL55i Pro costs less and is a classic counterweighted equatorial mount. The Wave 100i uses a strain wave drive, so you can leave the counterweights at home, and it also works in alt-az mode.

Specifications