Corvane Tamarack 22 GoTo equatorial mount, head only

Specifications

Description

The Tamarack 22 is a GoTo equatorial mount for telescopes and small astrophotography setups up to 22 kg. Its polar axis points at the celestial pole, so a single right ascension motor can hold a target in the field as the sky turns. Set the latitude with the polar scope, then let the hand controller slew the mount to any of its 42,000 catalogued objects.

The 22 kg payload rating suits a long-tube reflector or refractor with its eyepieces, finder, and imaging camera, as long as the combined load stays well below the limit. A 4 kg counterweight set slides along a 300 mm bar to balance the tube on either side of the mount. The head weighs 12.4 kg, so lift it with two hands and set it on a heavy-duty tripod or a pier, because a light stand will flex under a loaded tube.

The hand controller runs on 12 V DC, drawn from a cable to a battery pack or a regulated supply rated at 3 A. Two motor drives provide slew rates up to 4 degrees per second in RA and Dec, and the mount tracks at sidereal rate once it has been aligned on two stars. Alignment takes a few minutes in a clear sky. Keep the handset cable clear of the axes during slews, and cover the electronics when the mount is left outdoors overnight.

Use the mount with a guide scope for long exposures, since small periodic error in a budget drive shows up in guided imaging. For visual sessions, the GoTo function lets you locate faint objects in a few seconds rather than star-hopping across a dark field for an hour.

About this configuration

Each configuration of the Corvane Tamarack 22 GoTo equatorial 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 a spare dovetail bar, you can fit a guide scope or a second instrument side by side.

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 equatorial mount head with Vixen-style saddle
• Counterweight set, 4 kg
• Counterweight bar, 300 mm
• Hand controller with coiled cable
• 12 V DC power cable
• Illuminated polar scope
• Spare 200 mm dovetail bar

Compatibility notes

• Accepts Vixen-style dovetail bars up to 50 mm wide.
• Rated for 22 kg of payload, including the telescope, eyepieces, and camera.
• Mounts to a pier or heavy-duty tripod through a 3/8-16 base thread.
• Works with a 12 V DC supply rated at 3 A or more.