Tessaro Ravine 12 GoTo alt-az mount, with steel tripod

Specifications

Description

The Ravine 12 is a GoTo alt-azimuth mount for telescopes and accessories up to 12 kg. It moves in altitude and azimuth under motor control, and its hand controller holds a catalog of 42,000 objects, including stars, double stars, deep-sky objects, and solar system bodies. You select a target, the mount slews to it, and you then center the object with the controller's fine-correction buttons.

The mount head weighs 7.4 kg and sits in the middle of its rated range. Two-star or three-star alignment sets the reference for the tracking motors after power-up. Once aligned, the mount keeps the target near the center of the field for long visual sessions at medium and high power.

The dual-axis motors drive both axes through worm gears with backlash compensation. Tracking follows the sidereal rate by default, and the controller also offers lunar and solar rates. The mount runs from a 12 V DC supply rated for at least 3 A, such as a rechargeable battery pack or a regulated power supply. Connect the power cable to the mount's power port, not to the controller, so that slews are not interrupted during long sessions.

The Vixen-style saddle accepts dovetail bars with a 60 mm wide clamp, and a safety bar stops the tube from sliding during slews. Keep the total load, including the optical tube, diagonal, eyepiece, and camera, well below 12 kg. Balance the optical tube on the saddle before you start tracking, because an unbalanced load increases motor strain and reduces pointing accuracy.

Setup takes about ten minutes once the tripod is level. Use the bubble level on the head and the controller's level-check routine to confirm that the altitude axis is horizontal before you begin alignment. A tripod with a load rating of at least 15 kg is recommended for stable tracking.

About this configuration

Each configuration of the Tessaro Ravine 12 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. The portable power pack runs the motors of the mount through a full night away from mains power.

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. The payload rating in the specifications applies to the mount head in every configuration of the Ravine line.

What's in the box

• Alt-az GoTo mount head with Vixen-style saddle
• Hand controller with coiled cable
• 12 V DC power cable
• Tripod mounting bolt and washer
• Steel tripod with accessory tray
• 12 V lithium power pack with cable

Compatibility notes

• Accepts Vixen-style dovetail bars with a clamp up to 60 mm wide.
• Suits optical tubes and cameras up to 12 kg total load, including accessories.
• Uses a 3/8-16 base thread for standard photo tripods and pier adapters.