GoTo German equatorial mount with absolute encoders
Drive system
5.9" (150 mm), 225 tooth aluminum
Payload capacity
75 lb (34 kg)
Mount weight
39 lb (17.7 kg) mount head
Counterweight
1.875” (47.6 mm) diameter x 13.625" (346 mm) usable length, incl. washer and safety knob. Weight 10.7 lb. (4.8 kg)
Latitude range
0 to 67 degrees, engraved scale
Capacity
Payload-to-weight ratio
1.9:1
Motion
Slew rate
5 degrees / second at 12V 7.5 degrees / second a 24V
Periodic error
0.25” arc seconds peak-to-peak, 0.05 RMS
Encoder
Absolute encoders on both axes
Electronics
Controller
Astro-Physics GTOCP5 / APCC Pro ecosystem
Power
Nominal 12 to 24 volt DC supply, minimum of 5 amps continuous
Astrophotography Fit
A heavy-payload mount that should be chosen by realistic imaging payload, not headline capacity alone.
Mach2GTO German Equatorial Mount (MACH2GTO) - Standard is a flagship observatory-class GoTo mount for computerized tracking and guiding.
For long-exposure astrophotography, use a conservative imaging payload. The telescope, camera, guide hardware, dew heaters, dovetails, and cables all count, and guiding performance matters more than the catalog payload number.
Observatory-class mounts ask for a pier, software integration, and careful commissioning; they are not casual grab-and-go hardware.
Best paired with
Autoguided refractors or corrected reflectors within conservative payload limits
Stable tripod or pier and balanced counterweights
Computer or hand-controller workflow with good polar alignment
Not recommended for
Payloads at the rated maximum for imaging
Users who need an airline-portable rig above all else
Long focal length work without guiding and careful balance
Where To Buy
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