Northmere Garth GoTo alt-az mount, with steel tripod

Specifications

Description

The Garth is a GoTo alt-azimuth mount for telescopes and binoculars with a combined load of up to 8 kg. It moves in altitude and azimuth, driven by two stepper motors that follow the sky. Because an alt-az mount tracks along two axes, the field slowly rotates when you observe at high magnification. That rotation is a property of the design, so you can keep objects centred by making shorter observing sessions or by turning the eyepiece.

After a two-star or three-star alignment, the handset slews the mount to any of more than 40,000 stored objects, including planets, Messier and NGC entries, and user-defined waypoints. Slew speeds are set in several steps on the handset, and a fine-speed setting lets you centre a target in the eyepiece without touching the tube. A serial connection on the hand control lets you link the mount to a computer running planetarium software, which can send coordinates for targets outside the internal catalogue.

The head weighs 6.4 kg, so use a pier or a tripod rated well above the payload, because a light support transmits wind and footfall into the image. The Vixen-style saddle accepts dovetail bars up to 60 mm wide, and two lock knobs clamp the bar against the head. Keep the total load, including diagonal, eyepiece, finder, and any camera, below 8 kg for steady tracking.

Power comes from a 12 V DC supply that draws up to 2 A during slews and about 0.4 A while tracking. You can run the mount from a 12 V lead-acid battery for several hours of observing, which suits remote sites. Turn off the motors before you move the mount by hand, since forcing the head against an active drive can damage the gears.

About this configuration

The Northmere Garth GoTo alt-az mount is sold in several configurations, and the notes below describe what this particular one includes. The steel tripod gives a heavy, stable base that damps vibration quickly after you touch the focuser. A steel tripod adds weight to carry, but it settles fast when the wind picks up during a session. The fitted weather cover keeps dew and dust off the mount if you leave it set up between sessions.

The anodized black finish hides scratches and does not reflect the light of a red flashlight back at you. The 2025 edition keeps the same payload rating and gearing as the earlier years of the Garth line. Check the saddle type in the specifications against the dovetail bar on your telescope before you choose a configuration.

What's in the box

• Alt-az GoTo mount head with Vixen-style saddle
• Hand control with coiled cable
• Serial cable
• Tripod adapter
• 12 V DC power cable
• Accessory tray
• Steel tripod with accessory tray
• Fitted weather cover

Compatibility notes

• Accepts Vixen-style dovetail bars up to 60 mm wide.
• The 3/8-16 base thread fits most photo tripods and pier adapters.
• Suits telescopes and binoculars with a combined load up to 8 kg.