Tessaro Stillwater alt-az mount, head only

Specifications

Description

The Stillwater is a manual alt-azimuth mount for telescopes in the 5 to 10 kg range, including Catadioptric tubes and other medium-weight optical tubes. It moves in altitude, up and down, and in azimuth, side to side, so you point it directly at the part of the sky you want to see. The fork head has a rated payload of 7 kg and weighs 4.6 kg on its own, which leaves room for a larger Maksutov or Schmidt-Cassegrain with its accessories.

Slow-motion rods on both axes let you make fine corrections without touching the tube. At high magnification, where a field of view may drift out of frame in under a minute, these rods keep the target centered and reduce vibration. Tension knobs on each axis set how freely the head moves, so you can hold a heavy tube steady while you focus.

The dovetail saddle accepts bars up to 50 mm wide. A safety screw holds the bar in place while the main clamp is tightened, which matters with a long tube that could otherwise slip. The head has a 3/8-16 thread underneath for photo tripods, and a 1/4-20 adapter is included.

Keep the total load well below the 7 kg rating. Include the diagonal, eyepiece, finder, and any dew shield in the calculation. Heavier loads take longer to settle after focusing, and a tube close to the limit will sway when the wind picks up.

The Stillwater has no motors and does not track the sky. At low and medium power that is rarely a problem, and an object will stay in the eyepiece for a few minutes before it needs a nudge. For longer sessions or higher magnification, a GoTo or tracking mount is a better fit.

About this configuration

This listing covers one configuration of the Tessaro Stillwater alt-az mount, defined by its support, add-on, finish, and edition year. 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. The padded carrying case protects the mount head during travel and keeps its parts together in storage.

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

What's in the box

• Alt-az mount head with dovetail saddle
• Two slow-motion control rods
• 1/4-20 tripod adapter
• Accessory tray
• Padded carrying case

Compatibility notes

• Accepts dovetail bars up to 50 mm wide.
• Rated for a 7 kg payload, including the tube, diagonal, eyepiece, and finder.
• The 3/8-16 base thread fits most photo tripods; a 1/4-20 adapter is included.