Tessaro Strata GoTo EQ mount, head only

Specifications

Description

The Strata GoTo EQ is a computerized German equatorial mount for telescopes up to 11 kg. It tracks the sky on a single axis once polar-aligned, which avoids field rotation and makes it suitable for long-exposure astrophotography as well as visual observing.

The GoTo database holds 42,000 objects. After a polar alignment with the built-in polar scope and a two- or three-star alignment, the mount slews to targets and tracks them accurately enough for exposures of a minute or more with a short focal length telescope. An autoguider port accepts a guide camera for longer exposures.

The rated payload is meant for imaging, where a margin matters more than for visual use. For astrophotography, plan on a total load of about 7 to 8 kg: an 80 mm to 102 mm refractor with a camera and a guide scope. For visual use, an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain or a 150 mm Newtonian fits within the rating.

Belt-reduction gearing on both axes reduces backlash, and the worm mesh can be adjusted. The latitude scale runs from 0 to 65 degrees, so the mount works at most latitudes in both hemispheres. Two 4.5 kg counterweights balance typical loads.

The mount runs on 12 V DC at up to 3 A. A USB port on the hand controller lets you control the mount from a computer with standard astronomy software.

The head weighs 7.9 kg and separates from the counterweights and the tripod for transport. The Strata GoTo EQ suits observers who want one mount for visual observing and a first step into deep-sky imaging.

About this configuration

The Tessaro Strata 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. With a spare dovetail bar, you can fit a guide scope or a second instrument side by side.

The white finish stays cooler in sunshine, which helps if you set up the mount in the afternoon. This is the 2024 edition, which revised the altitude adjustment and the cable routing of the Strata line. The payload rating in the specifications applies to the mount head in every configuration of the Strata line.

What's in the box

• GoTo equatorial mount head with Vixen-style saddle
• Built-in polar scope
• Two 4.5 kg counterweights
• Hand controller with cable
• 12 V power cable
• Spare 200 mm dovetail bar

Compatibility notes

• Accepts Vixen-style dovetail bars up to 45 mm wide.
• The ST-4 autoguider port accepts most guide cameras.
• Controllable from a computer through the USB port on the hand controller.