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TELESCOPE MOUNT BASICS

The telescope mount is one of the three components of a star gazing assembly? An Astro Observing System? Some will say it is an accessory.

Call it what you will if you want to stare at the sky for very long you'll want one LOL

The mount holds the telescope so you don't have to. That's simple enough. With that it should hold it pointed where you want, as long as you want, move with the object its pointed at and do all this with little or no vibration.

There are basically two types of mounts. The Altazmuth mount and an Equatorial telescope mount.

ALT-AZ AND EQUITORIAL

The Alt (altitude) Azimuth (side to side) mount can be manual and very simple such as a Dobsonian style mount or a very sophisticated electronic "go to" type mount seen on many commercially sold telescopes today. As the name emplies it moves the tube assembly Up or Over to move to an objective. This can be done by hand with two simple controls or it can be done by a computer that is connected to drive motors attached to the mount.

A "Fork" mount is an Alt-Az mount usually with computerized guidance system in place. You can turn a fork mount into an equatorial mount by installing a wedge that points the forks toward polaris. Then the computer only adjust the azimuth control to track an object.

A Dobsonian mount is a Alt-Az mount that is typically run by you. You get to move the scope every time the object you are viewing moves out of the field of view You are also the "Go to computer system" You get to locate the object and point the scope to that same object and keep the scope on track. It may sound like a hassle at first. Don't let that discourage you ...Having this type of mount is the best way to learn astronomy and what is where in the night sky!

I know people that can fling a Dobb around faster, more accurately and find darn near as many objects as any store bought computerized scope out there. My friend Nick is one of em. and of course some of the Astronomy Professors in the club....and this one drunken truck driver I know....

The Equatorial Mount is just like the Alt-az but is the base is tilted to match the axis of the earth. It allows the scope to smoothly move in an arc across the sky to offset the rotation or the earth. You just point the rotating point of the mount toward Polaris now it runs parallel with the axis of the earth and rotates in the same direction. Thus the scope can track across the sky smoothly in an arc with simple adjustments of the azimuth correction system. This can be done with a simple 24 hour clock drive. Think about it.. the world makes a full revolution in 24 hours. If you drive your scope in the opposite direction at the same speed, this will offset the earths rotation for a good amount of time. A couple of hours if all is set up correctly.

Goto or Go-To mount: This is any mount that has a computer connected with a drive system that allows the computer to direct the mount where to point the telescope. The telescope will "Slew" to the coordinates for an object that is set in a data base for the computer.

The telescope mount is usually made of two components the head and the legs. They are most times interchangeable, not always.

The equatorial mount are the best mounts for astro photography. They can track an object longer an smoother then the stair step motion of the Alt-Az type mount..

Photography from an Altazmuth mount will come out with an oblong image

Both mounts are excellent for amateur visual astronomy.

From here the biggest difference will be in the construction of the mount.

Compare it to a car...They all have basically four wheels and an engine etc. after that it is HOW they are made that makes the difference in performance and price.

See Eye Piece Basics next

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