March 31, 2026
Description
The OpenAstroExplorer is a compact and portable equatorial mount designed for light to midrange astrophotography setups.
It features a fully belt driven RA axis, resulting in very low backlash and PE, using the same two-stage 9:1 gearbox as OAM. It also includes a magnetically detachable RA ring, a compact worm gear driven DEC axis, and a foldable ALTAZ mechanism, optimized for easy transportation and quick setup in the field. Despite its focus on portability, the OAE offers precise tracking and guiding with a good payload capacity.
A built-in Auto Polar Alignment (AutoPA) mechanism simplifies setup, making the mount user-friendly for both experienced and new astrophotographers.
You can find all the relevant guides, BOM and print instructions on our wiki:
https://wiki.openastrotech.com/OpenAstroExplorer
Files: https://github.com/OpenAstroTech/OpenAstroExplorer
The print files here on Makerworld include all the main parts but you will have to print the appropriate Counterweight and Tripod adapter from the “other” folder.
Join the OpenAstroTech Community:
Discord: https://discord.gg/5GVtSN59GB
License:
BY-NC-SA
OpenAstroTech
