Tessaro Caldera GoTo EQ mount, with steel tripod

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 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. No add-on is included, which suits observers who already carry their own cases, bars, and power supplies.

The anodized red finish makes the clamps and knobs easier to find by touch and by red light. The 2023 edition uses the same gears and bearings as later years, with small differences in the clamps. The payload rating in the specifications applies to the mount head in every configuration of the Caldera line.

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 tripod with accessory tray

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.