What Types Of Telescope Tripod Mounts Are There?
All telescope tripod mounts belong to one of two basic types – altazimuth or equatorial. There are many different styles that belong to these two basic types, but first let’s more closely examine the basics. Altazimuth Telescope Mount: The most basic type of telescope mount is the altitude-azimuth, or alt-az systems. The name refers to the way the system allows the telescope to be moved in altitude, up and down, or azimuth, side to side, as separate motions. Typical modern altazimuth mounts have clutch/braking systems incorporated into their mechanics – as well as panhandle, or knob controls to assist in movements.
