Corvane Rampart GoTo equatorial mount, with carbon fiber tripod

Specifications

Description

The Rampart is a GoTo equatorial mount for small refractors, short reflectors, and Maksutovs with a total load up to 4 kg. Its polar axis is tilted to match the latitude of your observing site, so the right ascension axis runs parallel to the Earth's rotation. Once aligned, a single motor on that axis keeps objects centered at medium and high magnification for longer than an alt-az mount can.

The hand controller stores about 4,000 objects, including planets, the Moon, Messier objects, and bright double stars. Enter the date, time, and site location, then align on two stars to set the pointing model. Select a target and the mount slews to it on both axes at adjustable speeds, which saves time when you move between objects in a session. Initial polar alignment takes practice, so set the tripod level and allow a few minutes on the first night.

The saddle is a dovetail clamp that accepts bars up to 45 mm wide, and a safety screw holds the bar in place while you tighten the main clamp. The head weighs 3.4 kg and has a 3/8-16 thread underneath for mounting on a tripod. Keep the total load, including a diagonal, eyepiece, finder, and any camera, well below the 4 kg rating. Loads near the limit take longer to settle after a slew and show more vibration at high magnification.

The mount runs on eight AA batteries or a 12 V DC supply. The drive uses a worm gear and gears typical of budget equatorial mounts, so periodic error appears over a few minutes of tracking. For visual observing, that error is rarely noticeable at low and medium power. Long-exposure astrophotography needs autoguiding or a more precise drive.

About this configuration

The Corvane Rampart GoTo equatorial mount is sold in several configurations, and the notes below describe what this particular one includes. The carbon fiber tripod saves weight for travel while still damping vibration well at moderate magnification. Carbon fiber legs stay comfortable to handle on cold nights, since they conduct less heat away from your hands than metal. With a spare dovetail bar, you can fit a guide scope or a second instrument side by side.

The titanium gray finish has a hard anodized layer that resists wear on the clamp surfaces. The 2025 edition keeps the same payload rating and gearing as the earlier years of the Rampart line. 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

• German equatorial GoTo mount head with dovetail saddle
• Hand controller with coiled cable
• Aluminum tripod with accessory tray
• Counterweight bar and 2 kg counterweight
• Power adapter for 12 V DC input
• Carbon fiber tripod with accessory tray
• Spare 200 mm dovetail bar

Compatibility notes

• Accepts dovetail bars up to 45 mm wide.
• The 3/8-16 base thread fits most photo tripods; a 1/4-20 adapter is included.
• Suits telescopes up to about 90 mm aperture for steady tracking within the 4 kg payload.