Tessaro Strata GoTo EQ mount, with steel pier

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

Each configuration of the Tessaro Strata GoTo EQ mount uses the same mount head; the options change what it stands on and what ships with it. The steel pier raises the mount and leaves more room under the telescope for long refractors and cameras. A pier lets the telescope swing past the meridian without the tube or the camera hitting the legs. A spare dovetail bar lets you keep a second telescope ready to swap onto the mount in a minute.

The anodized red finish makes the clamps and knobs easier to find by touch and by red light. This is the 2023 edition of the Strata line, the earliest version that is still listed in the catalog. 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
• Steel pier with leveling base
• 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.