随着新一代伺服摩擦传动赤道仪的安装完成，黑洞天仪研发的首台摩擦赤道仪顺利完成了其原理和稳定性验证。这台赤道仪于2023年11月安装在稻城天文台，搭载信达254F4.8老黑望远镜。

在为期一年的使用中，不仅成功完成了技术验证，还承担了多项深空观测任务。目前设备状态良好，导星精度仍可保持在0.5角秒，后续将作为公益设备，免费借用给天文台友使用。

这台赤道仪在设计上采用了创新的2级摩擦传动技术（2级均为摩擦传动），搭配步进电机RA轴实现了高达385倍的减速比，指向速度可达5度/秒，同时保留了摩擦传动无间隙传动和低周期误差（PE）的特点。

设备自重约12kg有效载重达20kg以上，同时周期误差控制在±10角内。传动方式为RA摩擦与Dec谐波减速组合。负载信达254F4.8老黑望远镜时，导星误差RMS0.45~0.65角秒，虽然性能不算顶尖，但表现足够稳定，与EQ8可越级一战。

同时，该设备支持最长2分钟的无导星跟踪能力，为深空摄影提供了更多可能性。

±7arcsec RA error

长周期误差

总 Rms0.45"  1.5Hours

无导星跟踪展示：

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1qk4y1D7Pn?t=410.2

在稻城天文台的一年时间里，这台赤道仪完成了多项深空天体观测任务，致力于搜寻系外星系中超新星。搭配1200mm焦距的望远镜，重点对NGC6946、M63、NGC4438、NGC2403等目标进行了深入观测，并记录下多幅高质量的深空影像。

深空作品链接：巡星客 (istarshooter.com)    

展望未来

它的功成告退，证明了摩擦传动技术在高负载和高精度天文设备中的可行性与可靠性，为新一代设备的研发积累了宝贵经验。目前，新一代伺服摩擦赤道仪（SFE300/SFE400）已经完成安装并进入实战阶段，其性能在负载能力和导星精度上实现了进一步突破。未来，我们将持续关注SFE系列赤道仪的表现，期待它们在天文观测中取得更多成果。

In November 2023, the first friction equatorial mount developed by Blackhole Instruments was installed at the Daocheng Observatory, paired with the Xinda 254F4.8 Newtonian telescope. Over a year of operation, the mount not only successfully completed its technical verification but also undertook multiple deep-sky observation tasks. The equipment is currently in excellent condition, maintaining a guiding accuracy of 0.5 arcseconds. In the future, it will be available as a public-use instrument, offered free of charge to fellow observatory enthusiasts.

Cutting-Edge Design and Features

This equatorial mount employs an innovative two-stage friction drive system (both stages utilizing friction drive), achieving a reduction ratio of up to 385:1 with a stepper motor on the RA axis. It supports a slewing speed of up to 5 degrees per second while retaining the characteristics of friction drives, such as zero backlash and low periodic error (PE).

Weighing approximately 12 kg, the mount has an effective payload capacity of over 20 kg and keeps periodic errors within ±10 arcseconds. It uses a combination of RA friction drive and DEC harmonic reduction. When paired with the Xinda 254F4.8 telescope, the mount achieves RMS guiding errors of 0.45–0.65 arcseconds. While its performance isn’t the absolute pinnacle, it is stable enough to compete with EQ8 mounts in its class. Additionally, the mount supports unguided tracking for up to two minutes, unlocking more possibilities for deep-sky astrophotography.

Link to unguided tracking demonstration on Bilibili

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1qk4y1D7Pn?t=410.2

A Year of Contributions at Daocheng Observatory

During its year-long deployment at the Daocheng Observatory, this equatorial mount completed several deep-sky observation projects focused on the search for supernovae in extragalactic systems. Paired with a 1200 mm focal length telescope, it targeted objects such as NGC6946, M63, NGC4438, and NGC2403, capturing high-quality deep-sky images.

Looking Ahead: 巡星客 (istarshooter.com)

The success of this equatorial mount demonstrates the feasibility and reliability of friction drive technology in high-load and high-precision astronomical instruments, laying a solid foundation for the development of next-generation equipment. Currently, the new-generation servo friction equatorial mounts (SFE300/SFE400) have been installed and entered operational testing. These models feature further advancements in load capacity and guiding accuracy. We look forward to the continued performance of the SFE series and their contributions to astronomical observation.