Best Telescope Mount - Review Of Twilight I by Explore Scientific ( by Reflactor )

This is a review and (sortof) user manual for the Twilight I model Alt-Az mount from Explore Scientific. I bought it used and so far it's been great.
#best #telescope #mount
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/// AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS (Note: I earn a small commission from these links) ///
Twilight I Mount from Amazon: amzn.to/48M8eCa
SVBony CLONE of this mount (NEEDS tripod): amzn.to/3UNG7zo
Ring point spreader pliers: amzn.to/42JmZo4
Vixen Dovetail Bar: amzn.to/3OLW9G0
6" Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope: amzn.to/3T3FZdH
12" Dobsonian Telescope: amzn.to/3SInD0t
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Best Value Set Of Upgraded Eyepieces: amzn.to/3Y7MYmn
Best Overall Red Dot Finder: amzn.to/3UQVPJr
Economy Smartphone adapter: amzn.to/3WfKS2e
Bluetooth shutter button: amzn.to/3OBpW1i (prices have risen)
Best book for new astronomers: "Turn Left At Orion": amzn.to/3PDxLo4
CHEAP 8 inch Dobsonian Telescope: amzn.to/49TH12l
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Paperback: amzn.to/4aPRc7Y
Audiobook: amzn.to/3WhhXOw
Like what you saw? Please push LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and leave a comment!
Questions Convered:
1) What is the Twilight I alt-az mount by Explore Scientific?
2) How do I adjust tension on a Twilight I mount?
3) How do I reconfigure the Twilight I mount?
4) How do I mount a Maksutov-Cassegrain?
5) How do I support a telescope with a Vixen dovetail?
KZbin NOTES:
1) This video complies with the KZbin Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.
2) Soundtracks provided with permission by my video editor, Camtasia.
3) All products shown were purchased by me with my own money.
4) This video does not contain any children, offensive material or language.
#twilightmount
#altaz
#explorescientific

[@wingriderroy2776]

I have the SVBONY version of this. The SV225 mounted on the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer tripod. Mostly use it with a Short tube 80 as a quick grab and go rig.

[@bierrollerful]

Thanks for this review! I have been eyeballing this mount for a while now as a replacement for a tabletop dob mount. Table dobsonians are only fun to use when you have table, which are annoyingly rare out in the wild. Also, 0:11 "You already have a telescope on there." - "I have one, yes. But what about second telescope?"

[@reflactor]

I have several of the table-top telescopes and they always end up on the hood of my car! Perhaps I could use the Mak-Cass as a viewfinder for the big Dob? :) Clear skies!

[@deepskymike767]

Another quality video from one of my favourite KZbin astronomy channels. Cheers from the Uk 🇬🇧

[@reflactor]

Thanks for watching! Clear skies (I've heard that is rare in the UK?).

[@deepskymike767]

@@reflactor It certainly is. We can sometimes go 3 weeks or more without seeing any stars. Damn that pesky warm Gulf Stream! However that same Gulf Stream also keeps us relatively warm for an island so far north. Summers can get pretty hot and our winters compared to a lot of the USA are very much milder even though we are further north. (I’d much rather have freezing temperatures and plentiful clear skies though).

[@johngiromini5745]

Don't believe I have heard of that particular model. You did a great job of explaining all the setup and use.

[@reflactor]

Thanks! I like the fact that I only need this one super nice configurable mount and can put many telescopes on it.

[@hedgehog3180]

You're probably my favorite astronomy channel because you find all the cool things that are helpful and accessible to beginners.

[@reflactor]

Thank you for the kind words. I'm happy to help. I don't publish many videos, but I try to make them fun and educational.

[@hedgehog3180]

@@reflactor They've helped me loads as a beginner, especially astrohopper it's weird that no one else is talking about it.

[@GCoyote06]

Great video. Clear and easy to understand dialog. Clear and perfectly lit video.

[@reflactor]

Thanks! I invested in a studio light and it seems to be helping.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Pretty sophisticated manual mount.

[@reflactor]

I'm pretty happy with it. I'd like to try the SVBony clone, but it doesn't come with a tripod.

[@RKClements]

I had one of these but sold it and bought a SkyWatcher AZ-5 which I like a lot better. This is an OK mount, but the settling time was a little long no matter how much adjustment and tweaking I did. And the slow-motion controls, which great when you first attach them, inevitably become loose and you simply cannot get them tight enough. Drove me crazy (even tried blue Loctite - did not help). Like the AZ-5 better, and the control knobs, while taking a bit of time to get used to, are much nicer and never loosen up. I run a Astrotech AT80ED, Evostar 100 ED Pro, and Lunt Ha50 on it.

[@reflactor]

Thank you for those details - I've heard good things about the AZ-5. Didn't realize it was even more stable.

[@RKClements]

I think the AZ-5 does a better job dampening vibrations and I prefer the slow mo knobs to the cables, but it is more expensive. The Twilight tripod is very nice, though. The person I sold the twilight to is very happy, and other members of our club really like theirs as well.

[@lornaz1975]

You have solved a mystery for me. I have wondered why that set ring was off centered. I had no idea you could adjust the friction of the knobs. There is one thing about the mount you did not mention. You have the ability to adjust the tightening screws themselves. If the handle on the tightening bolt is in the way of something you can simply unscrew the center bolt within the tightening bolt and reposition the bolt handle.

[@reflactor]

Happy to help! Those eccentric collars are super handy. It doesn't necessarily require a special tool - long needle nose pliers would probably do the trick.. I frequent estate sales and pick up unique tools. Thank you for reminding me about the spring-loaded adjustable axis lockbolts. I knew I'd forgotten something in the video. I might have to make a Version 2 of the video. Clear skies!

[@lornaz1975]

@@reflactor Yeah spring-loaded adjustable axis lockbolts. Thats a better way of describing them than what I said.

[@JoeJaguar]

hey John great info, cant wait till you try out that scope on Jupiter see what you think? although Jupiter is past its prime.

[@reflactor]

Agreed. Jupiter was blindingly bright for much of the past year or so. Now it's starting to fade.

[@RoofMonkey911]

I looked at that mount as well, but ended up finding an FirstLight EXOS Nano EQ3 Mount for under $150 on Amazon. Nice sale they were having. I use it mainly for a ST80 for quick solar viewing. Overkill on the mount…. For sure, but it’s sturdy enough when I want to expand.

[@reflactor]

Thanks for the comment! I didn't include EQ's - that would've been too many choices for me. In the future, I'd like to do a comparison of the top five most popular. The weight limit was one of the most important parameters with my Mak-Cass. Clear skies!

[@DMGinc77]

Even though this mount is priced reasonably, it's main drawback is the arm. I use this mount on my TS Optics 102ED. The arm is wobbling. You can't use the arm in the upright position, because it severely limits how high you can go. Also, mine has the gear problem.

[@reflactor]

That issue may happen to mine after a while. For now, everything is super tight. I don't see any bowing (yet). Can you tell me about he gear problem?

[@DMGinc77]

@@reflactor The ALT bearing has significant play. No matter what i do with it. I can't fix it. I think it still has warranty. But, sending it back to ES, will take huge amount of time. I don't have any other mount.

[@reflactor]

I think I know what you mean. On the outside of the altitude mount are three allen head bolts. If you remove those, it gives you access to a single adjustable tension nut (inside). Carefully tighten that a little bit at a time and the looseness should go away. I did have to adjust that once.

[@tubedude54]

'Tape it to my dob...' LOL I'm laughing because I did that years ago with a 60mm Sears refractor after I made a 6" reflector! That was back when I was a poor teenager and finding parts was not 'easy' like it is today...it worked!

[@reflactor]

As the old saying goes, if it works, it ain't silly!

[@tubedude54]

@@reflactor I have to applaud your dedication to making these videos... I see you're wearing a short sleeve shirt and the temperature is about 58° according to the thermometer on the wall! Bit nippy! The tape holder is kinda nuts though... you know the roll you are going to need next will be at the back and you will have to remove them all to get to it! lol I also had a set of those rings in the back over your left shoulder... I won't tell the 'secret' to the trick if you don't.

[@reflactor]

Hahaha, yes, it's been a bit cold lately. I didn't record anything for a good month or so because the temperatures were down in the 30's. You're the first to mention my tape holder and you are correct, it's incredibly inconvenient if I need tape that is farther back. It's currently organized by "most likely to need."

[@3dfxvoodoocards6]

Like! The Twilight is an excellent mount. The Svbony sv225 is still better and also cheaper, it has a handle to move the mount (Twilight doesn’t), 2 safety screws (Twilight has just 1) and it’s arm has 3 bars (Twilight has just 2).

[@reflactor]

I've heard good things about the Svbony clone.

[@Vic-pz5oh]

My 5" mak is on a Skywatcher az5 mount and the altitude can be adjusted too.bought the dedicated ss tripod as the scope is only as good as the mount.neat how you can adjust the clearance on the worm drive on yours.clear skies Vic

[@reflactor]

I suspect this Twilight is overkill for a lot of telescopes, but it works well for my 12 pound Mak-Cass. The clearance feature is helpful.

[@Vic-pz5oh]

@@reflactor time for a bigger mak😜🤫

[@reflactor]

I wish! My budget is very limited. :)

[@Viruzzz]

I think the extra bolt holes is because the adjustable section is the same part for both the control axises and the mount on the top one has holes that seem to line up with the inner bolt pattern, even if they aren't currently in use (it should be more secure though if the inner holes were used as there are 4 holes for those instead of only 2) It's probably just so the two parts are identical for easy of manufacture, it could also be reused in other mounts from the same brand for mounting different sized hardware.

[@reflactor]

Good point. It could be a cost-savings measure that makes them available for other models.

[@janomacko5764]

Maksutovs are great telescopes and they deserve to be on good mounts.

[@reflactor]

I had a small one years ago that was okay, but this one is pretty amazing as far as the view goes.

[@millenialfalcon8243]

For those that dont know, that other company is Orion. The absolute WORST in customer support if you are not the original owner. From personal experience.

[@reflactor]

Maaaaaaybe. ;)

[@ericbarnett6771]

Funny you should post this now. I, too, was in the market for a decent AZ mount. Mine would be used for smaller grab-and-go refractors, however. For me, the Porta clone on Temu at $75, ticked all of my boxes (the Twilight was a bit of overkill at more than four times the price ). The Porta is basically just a smaller version of the Twilight and it's been working out just fine for me. I plan on de-forking my ETX-125 and I'm hoping that the Porta will be up to that challenge.

[@reflactor]

Twilights are pricey brand new for sure - I got lucky to find a used one. The only downside to the SVBony clone is that it doesn't have a tripod. If I may ask, how has your experience been with Temu? Now you've got me curious. I'd like to have all of these Alt-Az mounts in a big battle video.

[@bierrollerful]

My concern with cheap mounts is reliability and longevity. Inexpensive mounts often cheap out on small but crucial stuff (like screws for the tripod legs) that can render the entire mount inoperable should they break. And then you need replacement parts or support, which they most likely cheap out on too. I do hope a mount like the Twilight is a "buy once, keep using for life" kind of deal.

[@ericbarnett6771]

@@reflactor I've bought lots of smaller scope stuff on Temu (Vixen dovetails, GLP's, etc.) but this was my first, and only, bigger ticket item I have purchased there, and I have quite a few tripods sitting around so buying just the mount wasn't a concern. Shipping was very slow, almost two months, but it arrived intact. FYI, the Porta clone is now $81.00.

[@donwilliams6783]

In your az mount reseach did you form an impression of tbe Skywatcher az5? That looks like a sturdy piece of equipment. I'm looking at both the Twilight 1 and az5.

[@reflactor]

The AZ5 also looks pretty sturdy. It seems to be slightly taller than the Twilight. I'm short, so that's not an issue. From what I could see, the AZ5 has slow motion knobs, but not the cables? I wouldn't like that. It's also about $100 more (if bought new).

[@donwilliams6783]

Where do you like to search for used gear. In one of your videos you mentioned Facebook market place. Any other ideas?

[@reflactor]

I buy from three main places: Facebook Marketplace, the classified ads on CloudyNights.com, and OfferUp.com

[@RobertBrann]

I use zorion versago 2 it only comes on a 30 deg. angle it is also been discontinued

[@reflactor]

What size telescopes have you put on it?

[@RobertBrann]

102 refracter

[@scottt6407]

You nearly had a "whoopsie" on that first tripod. Then you'd need not have bothered with another mount. MAK's are great scopes though. I just got the Nexstar 127 MAK a couple months ago. I'm pretty happy with it.

[@reflactor]

Very true. Fortunately, that Orion tripod has a safety catch as a last bastion of hope if the item slides down. Still, could've been an expensive disaster.

[@luanmega]

Can you use some electric motors in this kind of mount? like in a eq mount?

[@reflactor]

Not that I know of. Sky Watcher makes a motorized mount (AX-GTi) that supposedly works on this tripod.