Corvane Pivot GoTo alt-az mount, head only

Specifications

Description

The Pivot GoTo is a light computerized alt-azimuth mount for small telescopes up to 4 kg. After a short alignment on two bright stars, it slews to any of the 4,000 objects in its database and tracks them as the sky turns.

The hand controller guides you through alignment: enter your location and the time, center two stars that it suggests, and confirm. From then on, you choose a target from a menu, such as planets, Messier objects, or double stars, and the mount moves to it. The tracking keeps the object in the field for long views and for sharing the eyepiece.

The Pivot GoTo runs on eight AA batteries for a few evenings of use, or on 12 V DC from a power pack for longer sessions. Cold weather shortens battery life, so a power pack is a good choice for winter observing. The motors are quiet enough for a garden at night.

Small refractors, Maksutovs up to 127 mm, and 114 mm Newtonians fit within the payload. A Vixen-style saddle holds the dovetail bar, and the head attaches to the supplied tripod with a single bolt. At 3.6 kg for the head, the full setup is easy to carry in one trip.

An alt-az GoTo mount tracks in two axes at once, so the field slowly rotates during long exposures. That makes it suitable for visual use and short-exposure imaging of the Moon and planets, but not for long-exposure deep-sky photography.

For a beginner, the Pivot GoTo removes the step of learning to star-hop before seeing objects. Many users later learn the sky by watching where the mount points.

About this configuration

Each configuration of the Corvane Pivot GoTo alt-az mount uses the same mount head; the options change what it stands on and what ships with it. This configuration is the mount head alone, so you supply a tripod or a pier with a matching top plate. Buying the head only makes sense when you already own a sturdy tripod or a permanent pier in the garden. With the power pack, you can set up the mount in a field without running an extension cable to it.

The white finish stays cooler in sunshine, which helps if you set up the mount in the afternoon. The 2023 edition uses the same gears and bearings as later years, with small differences in the clamps. For steady views, keep the total load of tube, finder, and camera below the rated payload with some margin to spare.

What's in the box

• GoTo alt-az mount head with Vixen-style saddle
• Hand controller with cable
• Battery holder for 8 AA cells
• Quick-start guide
• 12 V lithium power pack with cable

Compatibility notes

• Accepts Vixen-style dovetail bars up to 45 mm wide.
• Runs on 12 V DC with a center-positive 5.5 x 2.1 mm plug.
• Suits small refractors, Maksutovs up to 127 mm, and 114 mm Newtonians.