Tessaro Caldera GoTo EQ mount, with steel pier

Specifications

Description

The Caldera GoTo EQ mount is a German equatorial mount for Tessaro catadioptric telescopes and other tubes rated up to 8 kg. Its polar axis points at the celestial pole once it is aligned, so a single motor on the right ascension axis can follow the sky and keep an object centered at high power. The hand controller holds a catalog of 42,000 objects, including the Messier, NGC, and IC lists. After you align the mount on two or three bright stars, it slews to any listed target and then tracks it.

Set the mount on a firm, level surface with the polar axis roughly facing true north. The polar scope has a reticle for the north celestial pole, and the handset guides you through a polar-alignment routine if you want a more precise setting. The tripod has a center spreader that resists wobble in light wind. The head weighs 6.4 kg, so lift it onto the tripod with two people. Keep the total load, including the tube, diagonal, eyepiece, and finder, below the 8 kg rating, and balance the tube with the counterweight bar before you start tracking.

The drives run on 12 V DC through a rear power port, so a 12 V battery or regulated supply can run the mount for a full night. Tracking is available at sidereal, lunar, and solar rates, and you can nudge either axis with the handset during a session. Slow-motion controls on both axes help you center objects after slewing. A guide port accepts an autoguider cable for long-exposure photography, though visual use needs only the tracking. Pair the Caldera with a 127 mm Maksutov-Cassegrain for a setup that sits on one tripod and stays under the payload rating.

About this configuration

This listing covers one configuration of the Tessaro Caldera GoTo EQ mount, defined by its support, add-on, finish, and edition year. The steel pier raises the mount and leaves more room under the telescope for long refractors and cameras. A pier lets the telescope swing past the meridian without the tube or the camera hitting the legs. The padded carrying case protects the mount head during travel and keeps its parts together in storage.

The anodized black finish hides scratches and does not reflect the light of a red flashlight back at you. The mechanics of the 2024 edition match the other years; the changes concern handling details only. 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 mount head with dual-axis drives
• Hand controller with coiled cable
• Aluminum tripod with center spreader
• Counterweight bar and one 2 kg counterweight
• Polar scope with reticle
• 12 V DC power cable
• Steel pier with leveling base
• Padded carrying case

Compatibility notes

• Accepts Vixen-style dovetail bars up to 50 mm wide.
• Suits telescopes up to about 127 mm aperture within the 8 kg total load.
• The 3/8-16 base thread fits most photo tripods.