Tessaro Arc alt-az mount, head only

Specifications

Description

The Arc is a manual alt-azimuth mount for telescopes up to 8 kg. Adjustable friction clutches on both axes let you move the telescope by hand and have it stay exactly where you leave it, with no counterweights and no balancing.

That simple operation makes the Arc a practical mount for quick visual sessions. Set the tripod down, attach the telescope, and start observing. Large refractors, 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrains, and 6-inch Newtonians all fit within the payload, as long as you keep the total load, with a diagonal and eyepiece, below the rating.

Slow-motion cables on both axes let you make fine corrections at high magnification without touching the tube. The cables can be removed when you prefer to push the telescope by hand. Bearing surfaces on both axes run smoothly in the cold, so the mount moves evenly on winter nights.

The single arm holds the telescope to one side, which lets long refractors point at the zenith without the eyepiece end hitting the tripod. The Vixen-style saddle has two clamping knobs and a safety stop. The altitude axis has a scale in degrees, which helps when you point at a target from its altitude in a planetarium app.

The head weighs 5.5 kg and attaches to tripods with a 3/8-16 thread. With a steel tripod, the Arc settles quickly after you focus, even with an 8-inch catadioptric telescope at 200x.

Because the Arc has no motors, it does not track. For visual observing, many users prefer that: there is no alignment, no battery, and no hand controller. For long planetary sessions, a GoTo version of the same mount is available in the catalog.

About this configuration

The Tessaro Arc alt-az mount is sold in several configurations, and the notes below describe what this particular one includes. 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. This configuration ships without extra add-ons, so the box holds only the mount and its support.

The anodized black finish hides scratches and does not reflect the light of a red flashlight back at you. The 2026 edition carries the mechanics over unchanged and updates small parts such as the knobs and covers. The payload rating in the specifications applies to the mount head in every configuration of the Arc line.

What's in the box

• Alt-az mount head with Vixen-style saddle
• Two slow-motion cables
• Base adapter with 3/8-16 thread

Compatibility notes

• Accepts Vixen-style dovetail bars up to 45 mm wide.
• The 3/8-16 base thread fits photo and surveying tripods.
• Suits refractors up to 120 mm, 8-inch SCTs, and 6-inch Newtonians within the 8 kg payload.