Skywatcher AZEQ6 Review

We are going to review the Skywatcher AZ EQ6 that allows both altaz and equatorial observing.
It carries the heavy Celestron C11 and Megrez 90 / Lunt 60mm solar telescope with ease.
We will set up the mount in the observatory and then have first light on the moon and then observe the solar surface.
I will let you know my thoughts after a number of uses - and some of the shortcomings you need to be aware of.
In summary - a great and affordable mount that I look forward to using for years to come.
00:30 AZEQ6 overview
02:50 Assemble AZEQ6
06:42 First light with AZEQ6 - lunar observing
09:20 Solar Observing
12:27 ReviewAZEQ6

[@grahamstevens9642]

I'm really enjoying your content. You are a natural presenter and I have learnt some good tips already. Keep it up mate. Grazza (from Australia)

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you for your lovely words Grazza. Really appreciated? And hope you’re enjoying the cricket? :-)

[@AntPDC]

You're right, it's a brilliantly versatile mount. It's more suited to a permanent setup like yours because (a) it has no carrying handle and (b) it weighs a ton! Love your humour too.

[@RefreshingViews]

Totally agree, I am not sure I would want to set this up every night.

[@Seafox0011]

Have been thinking about this mount or one of the so-called ALTAZ robotic mounts - am more convinced now this is a better option based on all those specs and your demo! Thanks for showing us you installation and the mount's basic functionality. Great channel BTW!

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you and glad you found it useful.

[@raypace6981]

This is a really interesting and informative channel Mark. I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you very much, Ray! It's great fun and kind comments like this help keep it going.

[@HollomanUFOLanding]

Really great, real world, really useful video! I have one of these on order and your video has just been so enlightening, covering all the prtactical aspects of the mount. I've subscribed to your channel!

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you for kind words, really appreciated.

[@JEdgar90]

Thank you for making this video! Just got my AZ-EQ6 and setting up. Can the saddle screws be on either of the telescope?

[@RefreshingViews]

Hola Jesus, I am not too sure what you mean! Send me a photo on Instagram / FB and I can take a look for you?

[@robi4514]

Congratulations on your new mount Mark and nice review. What a lovely mount - super quiet and well engineered - far cry from my “coffee grinder” CG5! The AZEQ6 or AZEQ5 would work well for me I think, as I love side by side visual observing with my ED102 and C8 and I also EAA on occasion. Shame I don’t have an observatory!

[@RefreshingViews]

You’re setup sounds awesome and yes, having a dual setup is wonderful.

[@thedeathlyhallows8087]

I have an az eq6 Pro as well. I love using it in Alt az mode with my celestron c9.25 for visual observing and a an esprit 120 apo for imaging. It’s a cinch swapping from Alt az to EQ mode when I want to do deep sky imaging with great guiding accuracy. For its price point it’s hard to beat. Freedom find is excellent as well. Every time I manually point the scope and then have it resume to GoTo, it returns to its previous target without fault. A big thumbs up from me.

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad you're enjoying your set up and yes agree, it's in a great price point. Oh and my kids would love your YT name!

[@snnfly]

This is what I'm hoping to do. I also have a Celestron 9.25 just sitting in the corner doing nothing, I wanted the option to image deep sky with my reflector but also visual and video with the celestron. Is this just a case of changing the setting on the hand piece?

[@stanleymyrick4068]

Mine just came in yesterday. Your comment on future proof is why I got this mount, even though this will be the first telescope/mount I've owned (besides a 6" Dob). Also the weight capacity of the mount was pretty good. I got a 180 Skywatcher scope to put on it. ----- Anyway, there is allot I'm going to have to figure out... Polar alignment, star alignment, getting the mount balanced with the telescope on it, etc. But I think I have the mount that will grow along with me. (The US and Canada were backlogged till August for this mount, had to order one of three that I found in England just to get one without waiting over half a year).

[@RefreshingViews]

Wow Stanley, that's going to be a great set up. Let us know how you get on. Wishing you clear and steady skies!

[@stanleymyrick4068]

@@RefreshingViews It's ok. I underestimated a few things. How cold it gets being one. Time to set up the mount, by the time it is set up your an icecube. Moving the mount is not really possible without breaking it down. The time it takes to balance and align. There is definitely something to be said about having a small grab and go telescope and I understand what people mean now, when they said "It's better to have a telescope you will use than one that sits in the garage, no matter how good that one is." But I've not givin up and have set it up on my back porch. Once I learn more and more with it there, I might take it out somewhere.

[@douwee.855]

Adam Sandler is into astronomy?

[@RefreshingViews]

My wife and daughters love this comment - thank you :-)

[@Astro_Gardener]

Set up looks very interesting Mark. One piece of advice i would give you, when Mrs Refreshing Views asks for the price, say I got no change from £1,000 for the £1,300 + mount! You have not lied, just been economical with the cost? I had same question when I brought my 60 mm Solarscope many years ago, no change from £2,000 when it was over £3,000!

[@RefreshingViews]

Yes I remember that story. Thin ice though Peter!

[@americanmaker8608]

Absolutely awesome rig.

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you!

[@tadassiksnius3402]

Great mount, I've been using it with my 8" f12 classic cassegrain for small galaxies, guiding is around 0.6 arc secs without any tuning. Congrats on such bargain!

[@RefreshingViews]

That sounds a great set up - enjoy.

[@SpeedingCanister]

That setup is awesome.

[@RefreshingViews]

Cheers! I can’t believe it’s mine - especially when I think back to starting out with a pair of binos.

[@lk5515]

I only have binoculars, never had a telescope yet and have no clue why you have two ;-). Maybe you have video explaining and showing it? BUT your videos is so fantastic, interesting and well done, it is just absolute pleasure watching it. I have a feeling I just need to go and buy AZEQ6, although I have no idea what to do with it. Thank you. Your observatory is awesome, love the sliding roof !!!

[@Seafox0011]

Its really worth leaning about focal length and aperture size and understanding what to expect from the different types of telescope and what you would really like to see/photograph ... its an expensive interest/hobby. Worth checking ebay etc for secondhand for a first telescope/mount as you can find bargains - if you know what you are looking for...

[@RefreshingViews]

Go for it LK - get yourself a nice small scope and mount and see what’s in the sky. A notebook and pencil or smartphone mount and you can record what you can see. I started (ahem!) too many years ago and am still finding new objects and new views. The joys of the observable universe is you’ll never run out of things to see. Worth looking up your local astronomy club or star party (astronomy meeting) and seeing some set ups firsthand. Oh and download Stellarium - it’s a planetarium app on phones and PC that is amazing and pretty cheap (free on PC).

[@rdiazmartin]

amazing setup!

[@MPG7287]

Have the same mount, love it.

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad you enjoy it Michael.

[@kimosavage7478]

Amazing Sun! wow I'm mind blown! you know what you are doing and I was wondering if you can help me and tell me if you think the Neq6-pro mount be good for a 200PDS Skywatcher?

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Kimo - the NEQ6 will defo carry the weight, the problem is that the eyepiece ends up in weird positions on the German equatorial mount so you have to rotate the tube. Lawrence mentions this when I visited his Great Bear Observatory. Obviously a problem for visual but no issues with a camera. The AZEQ6 doesn’t have this problem as the eyepiece won’t rotate into uncomfortable positions. Let us know what you went with!

[@robertbruce9168]

Congratulations on a very informative video,. just going to put one on order.. Just out of interest where or who did you get to make the aluminum mounting plate..Robert B.

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Robert thank you for your kind words. That was machined by my colleague at my old work in Romsey England. It cost me a packet of posh tea, coffee and biscuits for the staff room!

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Great video I've got the older version of the same mount the MK1 if you could call it that, I've used it at many solar outreach events in Alt Az mode & cannot fault it. It now resides in my observatory in EQ mode as I do a lot of imaging using a RASA 11 which I had to shed a few pounds from it due to the weight but it does work really well now. It's definitely an improvement over the NEQ6 in many ways, belt driven motors, the altitude adjustment being the main ones just a pity it's taken Skywatcher so long to put a USB connector on them so you can connect the mount via a PC as I have to use a EQ direct cable.

[@RefreshingViews]

Oh wow I bet your RASA provides awesome views. Glad you’re enjoying your mount, such a step up aren’t they?

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Definitely I'll be taking the mount & scope away with me next week as there's a couple of targets I'm really hoping to capture while we're away so fingers crossed.

[@BrianFraser]

Great summary Have you kept to using shims.for the second "shoe". I found it needs a fair bit more adjustment to get them in synch. But didn't want to shell out £400 ish for a adapter.

[@RefreshingViews]

Yes, exactly. The same penny washer is still under the little refractor. It's not perfect but good enough - and far more affordable then the alt-az adjuster for a guide scope.

[@Astronurd]

I have just bought myself the same mount but i much prefer using it in EQ mode. I am also just about to put Reflectix on my new scope but have no idea how to fix it to the telescope tube. How did you secure the insulation on your C11? I already have a dew heater strap and standard dew shield for the scope. I eagerly await your reply. Thanks Mark.

[@RefreshingViews]

I bought some silver-foil tape, allowed a few inches of overlap (5cm in proper units :-)) and just taped it down.

[@Nottsboy24]

Fantastic setup 🔭

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you! Hope all is well up there.

[@Nottsboy24]

@@RefreshingViews all good thanks 🔭

[@BritishBeachcomber]

Just added this mount to my wish list...

[@RefreshingViews]

Go for it Peter! I’m really enjoying it.

[@VGamer80]

Great video! I have a question, How do you balance the scopes with the mount? In other words how do you know if you need a extra counter weight.

[@RefreshingViews]

Put it in eq mode and balance it as you need. Then revert back to altaz with the same balance weights.

[@DavesAstrophotography]

Cracking setup Mark! Question, how do you balance the two telescopes to stop twisting the azi flange?

[@RefreshingViews]

Apols just noticed I never replied: the altitude axis has a fine tuning adjustment and then a clamp to lock the scopes relative position. The azimuth I did by eye (manual says to balance in EQ mode) with little scope plus counterweight versus big scope on the other side. Are you home yet or still working away?

[@DavesAstrophotography]

@@RefreshingViews cheers Mark, I've home now.

[@paulsmith1981]

The EQ rage has been about for an age but there is no getting away from the bult quality to price ratio.

[@RefreshingViews]

I agree, great value for money and so simple to use.

[@Seafox0011]

... one thing you might not realise is that you can stow the Altitude bar in the spindle shaft - just line it up rotating the ball-head and pop it in. That way its not hanging down and chancing a snag.

[@RefreshingViews]

Brilliant - thank you for the tip. It gets better and better.

[@stevenholt824]

Love the intro , lol, another great vid .

[@RefreshingViews]

Ha ha - I am on thin ice again.

[@dalel2112]

I didn't even know this mount existed until a few days ago. How has it been performing for the last year?

[@RefreshingViews]

So far so good! Big payload capacity and it just works. I have gone to EQ mode to avoid image rotating and am wondering whether to give it a regrease over the summer but other than that it still works just fine.

[@avt_astro206]

Nice Review!

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you!

[@mazinalmoumen]

Hi! I just got my Esprit 120 ED and waiting for the mount AZ-EQ6 in Canada 🇨🇦! Could you kindly advise if you still recommend this mount? I will use my telescope mainly for visual observation.

[@RefreshingViews]

Brr! How is the weather in your part of beautiful Canada? Yep I’m still enjoying my AZEQ6, having both C11 and small apo available is really useful. Only problem I’m finding is precisely aligning the two scopes. The apo has a small washer to shim into line as you can only fine tune altitude and not azimuth. But in summary yes it’s a great mount.

[@mazinalmoumen]

Great and thank you so much! I have watched you videos several times and I love them👍👍 it is -10 this morning 🥶

[@RefreshingViews]

@@mazinalmoumen thank you for your kind words. Let us know how you get on with the mount.

[@mazinalmoumen]

Thanks! Merry Christmas 🎄🎄🎄

[@robertwilson6918]

Because I am struggling to get it right I'm really really interested in astronomy

[@richardspence5316]

HNY Mark, Can I ask if you have issues with a stiff RA axis? I’ve had mine a few years and it’s a bugger to balance the RA because is so tight.

[@RefreshingViews]

And happy new year to you. No, no probs here. I assume you’ve slackened the clutch? I had to unscrew the handle to get it right as it has a limited range and then refasten the handle.

[@richardspence5316]

@@RefreshingViews TY Mark. I’ll give it a try☘️👍

[@RefreshingViews]

@@richardspence5316 I hope that makes sense! Let me know how you get on and reach out if you need anything else

[@realcygnus]

nice kit

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you!

[@snnfly]

Using this set up are you able to use one scope for visual and one for deep sky astrophotography? Thanks

[@RefreshingViews]

Not really as you want to be tracking equatorially for astrophotography. You could easily put it in eq mode though if you wanted to enter the horrors of deep sky imaging!

[@snnfly]

@@RefreshingViews Thanks for your reply. So to use in eq mode would I have to take off second scope and re adjust mount back to accommodate the one scope in EQ

[@RefreshingViews]

@@snnfly you got it!

[@HollomanUFOLanding]

So when you're using it in ALTAZ mode, how do you balance eash side? In ALTAZ mode, does the RA axis still open so that you can balance it like you would balance the RA on an equatorial mount? Thanks

[@RefreshingViews]

The manual says to put it in EQ mode and balance from there. Or be lazy like me and just guess until it looks about right!!

[@TheSighphiguy]

was your pier spacer ordered or local made?

[@RefreshingViews]

It was made at work - cost me packet of coffee, tea and biscuits for the machinists’ tea break.

[@simonegabellini6382]

Does yours make a little whining noise when idle after a movement? (without tracking of course, in that case it would be the sound of the gears moving).

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Simone, thankfully no! That being said it's pretty quiet so maybe I haven't noticed. I hope yours is ok?

[@simonegabellini6382]

@@RefreshingViews i don't know, the gears seem fine and I can't ear any really wrong noise. It is a really high pitched sound, and usually high pitched sounds are less hearable with increasing age, so I don't know if It is normal but I hear it due to being young😅. It is really similar to the screeching sound I hear from my charger while fast charging my phone, so hopefully it is some normal electrical thing.

[@simonegabellini6382]

@@RefreshingViews i asked the skywatcher support about the problem. It is normal, and it's a sound generated from the modulations of the frequencies used to control the stepper motors and electronics.

[@RefreshingViews]

@@simonegabellini6382 Ah that makes sense. Glad it's not a problem for you.

[@SimjetAU]

What is the program that controlls the mount please? I have a Saxon version of this mount

[@Seafox0011]

You'll need Skywatcher Synscan app - its the same one as is used for the smaller AZ-GTi mount. You can switch on EQ mode and have that as well as the Alt-Az mode. Also the app can be used as link to the mount from other ASCOM/INDI drivers and apps - so you can remote control the mount from a PC/Mac setup using Stellarium or SkySafari for example.

[@SimjetAU]

@@Seafox0011 Thanks....I dont think I got the Synscan handset with the mount when I got it..it was second hand

[@RefreshingViews]

As Mark says I use a synscan wifi adapter and then use synscan app on my phone. I also use Sky Safari which is fantastic.

[@thijrtuigynv]

Vixen for such a big tube? Doesn't it slip?

[@RefreshingViews]

It was alright but just in case I upgraded to an ADM bar.

[@layhervamp]

i hate the cigarette lighter socket power lead, what do you use?

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi - yes totally agree, they keep on popping out and disconnecting. I bought a second hand Pegasus power box and then one of these from First Light Optics: www.firstlightoptics.com/power-accessories/lynx-astro-silicone-power-cable-for-sky-watcher-az-eq5-az-eq6-eq6-r-eq8-r-mounts.html

[@robertwilson6918]

Hi can I use a 12" Newtonian telescope on this mount thanks

[@RefreshingViews]

There are some people who use a 12 inch on the azeq6. Do a search online and you’ll see some examples. Newts on a eq are quite frustrating for observing so best use it in az mode - oh and short f ratios preferred to minimise moments and effects of wind etc.

[@robertwilson6918]

Hi there would a 10" be better on a az-eq6 mount

[@RefreshingViews]

@@robertwilson6918 Well it would be easier to mount as it is smaller and lighter than a 12-inch. Whether it is better - being a smaller telescope - I am not sure. Have you read this? stargazerslounge.com/topic/269073-az-eq6-gt-12-f5-newt-a-good-idea-or-not/?_fromLogin=1

[@robertwilson6918]

@Refreshing Views I think I'm going to go with a 250PDS newtonian for the az-eq6 gt just wish that I had help to setup and stuff I really really want to learn about astrophotography I am going to build my observatory in the summer next year and the same peir as you have got

[@RefreshingViews]

@@robertwilson6918 Where are you based? Is there a nearby Astronomy Society you could visit? Or a nearby star party?

[@Astronurd]

I just can’t get into solar for some reason. It just doesn’t float my boat

[@RefreshingViews]

Go for it! It’s great fun and changes so much.