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

The Tessaro Ravine 12 GoTo alt-az mount is sold in several configurations, and the notes below describe what this particular one includes. 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.

Titanium gray anodizing shows dust less than black and keeps a uniform look over the years. This is the 2025 edition, which enlarged the clutch knobs so you can operate them with gloves on cold nights. 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

• 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.