Tessaro Mirador GoTo alt-az mount, with steel tripod

Specifications

Description

The Mirador is a GoTo alt-azimuth mount for telescopes and spotting scopes with a payload of up to 4 kg. It moves in altitude and azimuth under motor control, and its handset slews the mount to any object in the built-in database of about 42,000 targets. You can start a session by aligning on two bright stars, then select a target from the menu and let the mount find it.

Tracking runs at the sidereal rate on both axes, so a target stays in the eyepiece without manual nudging. In alt-az mode the field slowly rotates over a long session; for visual use this is seldom noticeable, but it shows on long photographic exposures. The handset has four slew rates, from fine centering to full speed, and the buttons are placed for one-handed use at the eyepiece.

The head weighs 3.4 kg and fits a 50 mm dovetail saddle. It runs on eight AA cells in the battery tray or from a 12 V DC input, which suits a field setup at a dark site. Telescopes up to about 100 mm aperture and 3 kg in weight work well on this mount. Keep the total load, including diagonal, eyepiece, and finder, below 4 kg, and allow a few minutes to settle after large slews.

Alignment uses a two-star routine that takes about five minutes at a typical site. Set the mount level on a stable surface, enter date, time, and location, then center each star with the handset buttons. Once aligned, the handset shows the current altitude and azimuth of the selected target, which helps when you match a finder chart. Battery power lasts about fifteen hours of tracking at moderate temperature.

About this configuration

Each configuration of the Tessaro Mirador GoTo alt-az mount uses the same mount head; the options change what it stands on and what ships with it. 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. With the power pack, you can set up the mount in a field without running an extension cable to it.

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. 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 dovetail saddle
• Handset with coiled cable
• Eight-cell AA battery tray
• 12 V DC power cable
• 1/4-20 tripod adapter
• Steel tripod with accessory tray
• 12 V lithium power pack with cable

Compatibility notes

• Accepts Vixen-style dovetail bars up to 50 mm wide.
• Has a 3/8-16 base thread for photo tripods; a 1/4-20 adapter is included.
• Suits telescopes up to about 100 mm aperture and 3 kg for steady tracking.