ΣΤΗΡΙΞΗ PEGASUS NYX-88 ΜΕ PREINSTALLED SADDLE POWERBOX

Pegasus Astro NYX-88 Harmonic Mount with Pre-installed Saddle Powerbox

The Pegasus Astro NYX-88 is a compact strain wave (harmonic) mount designed for travelling astrophotographers, carrying up to 14 kg without counterweights while weighing only 5 kg. This package comes with the Pegasus Astro Saddle Powerbox pre-installed, combining a rigid Losmandy / Vixen saddle with a complete power and USB distribution hub right on top of the mount.

Quick Overview

• Strain wave gears on both RA and DEC axes for backlash-free operation
• Up to 14 kg payload without counterweights, mount weight only 5 kg
• CNC machined 6061 aircraft aluminium body
• Equatorial or Altazimuth mode
• Electronic power-off brake on the RA axis
• Built-in Wi-Fi and USB, ASCOM Alpaca, ASCOM, INDI and LX200 support
• Pre-installed Saddle Powerbox with Losmandy and Vixen clamp
• Up to 6 x 12V outputs and 10A of total current on the saddle
• Built-in USB3 hub (2 x USB3 and 2 x USB2), up to 3A per port
• 2 x PWM dew heater outputs with automatic dew control
• Integrated temperature and humidity sensor
• Designed, assembled and tested in Greece

The NYX-88 Mount

The NYX-88 is the compact sibling of the NYX-101, built with travellers in mind. Strain wave drives on both axes guarantee a backlash-free experience with high torque even at maximum payload. Its fully CNC machined aluminium alloy 6061 body is anodized in black and blue, and inside you will find top quality branded components, including the stepper motors and the strain wave gears, for long-term flawless performance.

High Precision Tracking

Combining a stepper motor and belt drive with sophisticated electronics, the RA axis achieves a resolution of 0.15 arcseconds and very low periodic error, for ultra-smooth and stable tracking down to sub-arcsecond accuracy.

High Payload for its Class

With a weight of just 5 kg, the mount carries up to 14 kg (31 lbs) without counterweights, an impressive load-to-weight ratio.

Equatorial or Altazimuth

Use the NYX-88 as a German Equatorial or as an Altazimuth mount, and switch between the two modes from the PC or the mobile app.

Safety Features

An electronic brake on the RA axis stops the mount instantly and prevents backsliding during any power interruption, while safety limit stops protect your equipment during slewing and tracking. Reverse voltage polarity protection saves the night if you accidentally reverse the battery connection.

Wireless and USB Control

Wi-Fi and USB2 work simultaneously. The mount fully supports ASCOM 7, ASCOM Alpaca, INDI and the LX200 protocol, so it works out of the box with N.I.N.A., SkySafari and other popular applications. An integrated web server communicates natively with Alpaca clients for driverless control, and a mobile app for iOS and Android lets you move both axes, slew to thousands of catalog targets and perform a rough polar alignment.

Smart Operation

Encoders on both axes allow the mount to return automatically to its home position on request, and the mount saves its position every second and restores it at boot. The NYX-88 runs on 12V DC, consuming less than 0.6 A during tracking and up to 2 A during slewing, so a standard 12V battery is all you need in the field. Firmware can be upgraded via USB or over Wi-Fi.

Pre-installed Saddle Powerbox

The Saddle Powerbox combines a high quality CNC aluminium saddle with a power distribution hub. It accepts both Losmandy 3" and Vixen dovetails, with two separate adjustable knobs for secure clamping, and supports payloads up to 40 kg. Having power and USB distribution directly at the saddle keeps your setup tidy, reduces cable clutter and minimizes the risk of accidental disconnections during imaging.

Power Distribution

Four 12V DC outputs, switched together from the software, plus two dew heater outputs that can be switched to constant 12V, give you up to six 12V outputs and up to 10 A (120W) of total current. A built-in meter reports input voltage, current and power, so you can monitor the consumption of your whole setup.

Built-in USB3 Hub

A powered USB3 hub provides 2 x USB3 SuperSpeed ports and 2 x USB2 High-Speed ports. The SuperSpeed hub works in parallel with the USB 2.0 controller, so 5 Gbps transfers are not slowed down by slower devices. USB ports deliver up to 3 A, enough to power devices such as a Raspberry Pi.

Automatic Dew Control

Two PWM outputs power your dew heaters and can be adjusted from the software. Enable the Auto function and the Saddle Powerbox uses the dew point reading of its integrated temperature and humidity sensor to decide when to turn on the heaters and how much power to give them. DC to RCA adapter cables are included.

Standalone Operation

The Saddle Powerbox works out of the box as a standalone device and restores your settings every time it boots. A hardware watchdog resets the controller if it ever stops responding, a valuable feature for remote observatories, and the LED indicators warn you about power issues and can be turned off from the software.

Software Support

Both the mount and the Saddle Powerbox are controlled and configured through the Pegasus Astro Unity Platform via USB, while the mount can also be controlled over Wi-Fi. The Saddle Powerbox supports ASCOM (switches and observing conditions) and INDI, so it integrates with N.I.N.A., SGPro, MaxIm DL, StellarMate and other popular software.

Documentation

• NYX-88 Product Manual (PDF)
• NYX-88 Firmware Update via Web Dashboard (PDF)
• Saddle Powerbox Product Manual (PDF)
• Saddle Powerbox Clamp Adjustment Guide (PDF)