Tessaro Mirador GoTo EQ mount, head only

Specifications

Description

The Mirador GoTo EQ mount is a German equatorial mount rated for a payload of 15 kg. That covers a catadioptric telescope with a heavy eyepiece, a camera, and a guide scope. The head weighs 9.6 kg, so you can carry it to a dark-sky site in one trip. The fork arms and counterweight shaft let you balance the optical tube in right ascension and declination before you start an observing session.

The GoTo system holds a catalog of 40,000 objects in its handset, including stars, deep-sky objects, and solar system bodies. After a two-star or three-star alignment, you select a target and the mount slews to it at up to 8 degrees per second. Sidereal tracking keeps the target in the field at all eyepiece powers. Pulse guiding on both axes lets you correct drift that builds up during long exposures. The mount runs from a 12 V DC supply at 3 A, so you can power it from a battery pack in the field.

The dovetail saddle on the mount head accepts bars up to 50 mm wide, and a safety screw holds the bar in place while you tighten the clamp. Set the telescope on the saddle before you balance it, and keep the total load, including the diagonal, eyepiece, and finder, below the 15 kg rating. Heavy loads settle slowly, so allow a few minutes after a slew for vibration to die down before you focus at high magnification.

A pier or a heavy tripod reduces flex more than a light tripod does. The base thread is 3/8-16 on the bottom of the head. Check the rated load of the tripod before you add a long-tube telescope, since legs designed for light loads can bend under a full payload.

About this configuration

The Tessaro Mirador GoTo EQ 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. A spare dovetail bar lets you keep a second telescope ready to swap onto the mount in a minute.

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. 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

• Equatorial mount head with GoTo handset
• Counterweight shaft with two 5 kg counterweights
• Coiled handset cable
• 12 V DC power cable
• Spare 200 mm dovetail bar

Compatibility notes

• Dovetail saddle accepts bars up to 50 mm wide.
• The 3/8-16 base thread fits standard tripod heads with a suitable adapter.
• Rated for a total payload of 15 kg, including telescope and accessories.
• Requires a 12 V DC supply at 3 A or a compatible battery pack.