Telescope Fun

Stability is an important part of watching the stars and a telescope mount can help you in ensuring that your contact with a star is not severed due to instability in mounting. This being said there are different types of telescope mounts and while not all are created equally it is important to know what you wish to do with your telescope and how much you are willing to spend. Telescope mounts choose where and how you place your body in reference to viewing the stars. Therefore it is a matter of comfort and sustainability of position that determines what choice in mounts that you wish to choose. Yet, the choice of telescope is a big part of determining what type of mount that you will choose. Altazimuth telescope mounts are usually used on Dobsonian telescopes, which are large canister looking telescopes that are mounted on a chaise of sorts and provide very little in variation of mounts, yet are great at viewing the stars. Altazimuth mounts provide for up and down and left right movement, which for the novice to intermediate is usually sufficient in viewing stars, planets and the moon.

Basics of a Telescope Mount

Yet as telescopes begin to evolve the equatorial mounts allow for more movement, which coincides with the movement of the planet. The problem lie in the user needing to understand the movement and making minor adjustments and configure the telescope mount to make those movements. Usually utilized with higher end telescopes, the equatorial is an intermediate to advanced user mount that with practice anyone could use.

Advanced technology and for the computer savvy user, an individual could purchase a telescope mount that utilizes computer programming to move and track the stars. While expensive this telescope mount provides the user with options to view through the computer and through the eyepiece and requires mostly keystrokes to move the computer operated mount into position.

How to choose a Telescope Mount

I stated previously that choosing a mount is dependant upon what the intent, skill and needs of the user. Knowing this the user must look at the stability of the telescope mount and the area in which they will be using the mount, there are plenty of sites that can show you the best for various types of terrains, and while the beginner can look at paying a small price for a telescope mount, the more advanced may buy a higher end based upon their experience with astronomy.

Your comfort level is important, the good many of budding astronomers may quit because they have a mount that is not conducive to extended viewing and comfort of the user. Thus, deciding upon a comfort level and talking to others who have similar interest may help you in choosing a telescope mount or at least narrow it down.

Moving the telescope can be difficult with larger mounts and thus the problem of portability of your mount and whether you are willing to lug a heavy and cumbersome tripod or a chaise mount which may be rolled. So there are many aspects to telescope mounts that should be considered and with just a little research, time and energy you can find a mount that fits your needs and you will be off and running or at least watching the planets, stars and moons in our night sky.