The AC346 Star-Raker binocular mounting, designed and manufactured in England by Astro Engineering, is still after nearly ten years, the best way to mount binoculars for whole sky views and group usage. And it's only £160.49 inc UK p&p. And as if that's not a good enough deal...

The sheer splendour of the night sky viewed in large aperture binoculars is an experience few will forget. Used with a good-quality pair of binoculars and a full height tripod, the observing comfort of the Star-Raker makes exploring the sky at night a pure pleasure.

Ideal for group viewing: One of the main benefits of the "parallel motion" design of the Star-Raker is that the mounted binocular or telescope retains the same angle relative to the ground for any change in observing height. It sounds complicated but this means you can centre a target in the eyepiece and simply move the perfectly balanced binocular vertically up or down to the height of the next viewer, and the target will still be perfectly centred - even for children!

The Star-Raker uses a retained counterweight system to allow it to be quickly balanced for use with a wide range of instruments. From large binoculars (up to 3kg with standard weight - more with other weights available separately) to small telescopes and spotting scopes. The Star-Raker must be mounted on a suitable tripod (see left) and it has a base that can be attached to photo-tripods using a standard 3/8" BSW fitting screw.

Please note, you will need a specific clamp to suit your particular type of binocular or telescope. See lower left for details.

Please note - the binocular and tripod shown are for illustration purposes only and is not included in the price.

Scopes'n'Skies personal comment

Ideal for astronomy and wildlife usage

I've used the Star-Raker binocular mounting with a wide variety of binoculars and I'm always impressed with the level of convenience and viewing comfort offered by this mounting. It's difficult to over-estimate the benefits of having the binocular securely mounted but in such a manner that the binocular seems to defy gravity and allow movement to a new target with the lightest touch. Used for astronomy, with the observer in the standing position, the whole sky including directly overhead can be reached with ease - with the binocular seeming to 'float' above the users eyes!

For wildlife and bird observation (from home, hide and observatory) the Star-Raker can even be used in the sitting position - and remains a much overlooked but useful mounting for bird and wildlife observatory use. Robert J Dalby