After having used many, many mounting systems over my thirty plus years of observing, I have to say the Skypod is a pure joy to operate. The fully enclosed gear drive and motors are smooth and slew the telescope to almost 4 degrees per second from one object to another. The tracking is accurate and quiet. I find the compact Starbook controller to be very easy to use with its options of operating the mount with either drop down menus or scrolling the star chart and clicking Goto when the desired object appears on the display. This is the ideal mount if you want a portable automated mount. This mount will hold any optical tube (under 15 lbs) with the Vixen Universal Dovetail Plate. You can change the optical tube for different observing sessions.  

Astronomy Magazine found that "Vixen's Skypod Mount, with its StarBook controller provides full go-to capability in a lightweight package". They go on to state that "there is nothing light about the StarBook database. The Skypod is an innovative design that takes grab and go astronomy to a new level."

Clear Skies,     MrStarGuy

The Skypod Alt Az Mount is a unique portable computer controlled "Go To" mount that evolved from the very successful Vixen Sphinx mounts. The Skypod Alt Az Mounti ncorporates a compact computer controlled system that automatically slews the telescope from one object to another. This new and portable GoTo travel mount uses the modified Starbook S hand controller that offers the same practical user concept of the Sphinx controller. A display shows you a map of the sky so that you always know where you are. Navigate by object name or use the starchart to plan your observing session. The 22,000 plus object, upgradeable data base, provides an endless variety of objects to view.

The controller is integrated into the mount. You can take it off for remote control, but you can always put it back for safe storage and transport. This means that for transport you can avoid all the separate small parts that are otherwise easily lost. Because the Skypod it is based on Vixen's flexible mounting system, a wide variety of telescopes will easily and quickly attach to this mount. Skypod provides good portability combined with ease of use and versatility. Covered by a 5 Year Warranty (1 Year on Electronics)

Skypod Mount Details:

       Starbook S Controller

Monochromatic LCD-display with background illumination; Unique, easy to use, navigation using the displayed star chart.