This adapter is necessary to attach an Astro-Physics 400, 600E or Mach1GTO mount to a tripod or pier. The tripods above come with this adapter when ordered from us, but if you built your own tripod or pier, you will probably need this adapter. Please also note that the Astro-Physics 6" Portable Piers and 6" Eagle Pier do not need this adapter.

Click on the thumbnail at left to see a PDF showing the dimensions of the adapter for those of you building your own pier. We added 3 extra side bolt-through holes to the adapter so that all three mounts can be oriented with one of the tripod legs facing the pole. The 6 holes are spaced every 60 degrees.

The Tripod Adapter is made of black-anodized aluminum and is precision machined to help guarantee a rock solid platform for your observing and imaging needs. The Tripod adapter bolts onto the top plate of the tripod or the top of your home-made pier through the adapter's 3 bottom bolt-through holes. Your mount sits down inside the adapter and is fastened to it through 3 of the 6 side bolt-through holes using the 3 knobs that came with the mount.

ADATRI - Tripod Adapter will work with all 400, 600E and Mach1GTO mounts. It can also be used in many instances with the Control Box Adapter (CBAPT) and Single-Level Accessory Tray Support Bars (TRAYSB1). Additionally, it can be used with our (LM2APT) Adapter to mount a Losmandy G11 to a flat surface or tripod.

The 6" Eagle Adjustable Folding Pier (EAGLE6) is a beautifully machined work of art. It was designed with the traveling imager in mind and is the perfect companion to the Mach1GTO. The 6" Eagle will, of course, also support the 400, 600 and 600E mounts in grand style. The pier is adjustable from 24" to 44" in height (with the optional 8" Extension (EAGLE6E8)) and allows leveling the mount over a grade of about 6 1/2 degrees. It folds into a package 32" long and 12" in diameter for easy transport.

Just click on the image at left or one of the links above or below to go to the 6" Eagle's informative page. Online orders can also be placed from the 6" Eagle's page.

The 6" Eagle can be beautifully outfitted with our Control Box Adapter (CBAPT) and our Support Bars and Accessory Trays. This beautiful pier can also be used with a Losmandy G11 mount with our LM2APT Adapter.

The support bar attaches to the holes at the top of the pier post and can hold 2 trays, one above the other. It measures 8" long and 1.75" wide. Please note that this version of the support bar began to ship in January 2007. We shortened up the length by 0.25" and changed the position of the tray insert slots so that it can be used in more configurations, especially with the 6" Eagle Pier. All pier trays that we make currently and those we made in the past can be used with this support bar. However, if you have one of the original support bars and purchase one of these newer ones to use on the same pier, you will see that the trays used with this newer support bar will sit a bit higher than those on the previous support bar. For most purposes, this does not affect the function of the trays.

This support bar can be used with 32", newer 42", 48", 54" and 62" Astro-Physics Portable Piers. The struts interfere with its use on 24" and older 42" piers. The newer 42" models have added holes below the eyebolts for attachment of the support bar. Owners of the older 42" piers can modify their older piers to accept the TRAYSB as well. It will also work with the 6" Eagle Adjustable Folding Pier in some, but not all, of its height configurations. See our 6" Accessory Guideline Tables for more information.

This shorter, single-level support bar attaches to the holes at the top of the pier post or in a number of locations on the 6" Eagle Pier and can hold 1 tray. Although it was designed with the 6" Eagle in mind, it will also work with 8" and 10" piers as well as with the Adjustable Aluminum Tripod (SDS400) and the Adjustable Wood Tripod (AWT000) by attachment to the Tripod Adapter (ADATRI). See our 6" Accessory Guideline Tables for more information.

Like its longer cousin above, three brackets can be installed around the post to allow a tray circle, but with a single tier of trays. It measures 3.375 " long and 1.75" wide. All pier trays that we make currently and those we made in the past can be used with this support bar.

These handy trays will keep accessories close at hand during your observing sessions. The trays' raised sides will keep small round objects from falling off and getting lost in the dark grass. In addition to serving as a storage shelf, the top tray will protect items below it from dew. Each tray spans 1/3 of your 6" pier, so you can construct a complete circular tray around the pier post with just three trays and three support bars. For added versatility, you can mix these solid trays with the Eyepiece Accessory Trays (TRAY06H) shown below. See our 6" Accessory Guideline Tables and our examples page for the ultimate system.

These trays cannot be used with 24" Astro-Physics piers or with un-modified 42" piers (there is not enough clearance with the support struts). In order to use these trays with 42" piers, there must be 3 holes drilled around the circumference about 8.5" from the top of the pier post. The support bars will be mounted with bolts through these holes and nuts inside the pier post. If you have a 42" pier, you will need to make this modification.

Bottom View

LT2APM on HD Tripod with Knobs (LTKS)

Mach1GTO with optional 1.875 x 10.7" Counterweight Shaft (M1053-A), 8.5" Dovetail for "D" Series Plates (DOVELM2), A-P Tripod Adapter (ADATRI), Losmandy Tripod to A-P Mount Adapter (LT2APM) and Losmandy HD Tripod

A-P Tripod Adapter (ADATRI) mounted on the LT2APM

For 400, 600E and Mach1GTO mounts

A-P 900 Flat Surface Adapter (900FSA) mounted on the LT2APM

Allows the use of the 900 Precision Adjust Rotating Pier Adapter (900RPA) or Hi-Lo Latitude Wedge (900WDG).

A-P 900 Standard Pier Adapter (900SPA) mounted on the LT2APM