Why A Telescope Mount Is A Necessity For Stargazing
If you have ever tried looking through a telescope without a telescope mount to steady your equipment, you understand the difficulty of focusing on a set object in the night skies. Compound that problem with a heavenly body that is actually moving across the sky & you realize that it’s almost impossible to track this object. There is no doubt, stability of your telescope is key to enjoyable stargazing.
Purpose of a Telescope Mount
A telescope mount gives a stable platform for your telescope, whether it’s a refracting telescope, reflecting telescope, Dobsonian telescope, or catadiotric telescope. A telescope mount will ensure that your viewing of a celestial body isn’t interrupted by unexpected movement. It also determines how you’ll position your body relative to the telescope to view the nights sky, determining how comfortable you’ll be over any extended period of stargazing.
Types of Telescope Mounts
Altazimuth telescope mounts are generally used on a Dobsonian type telescope. These telescopes look like a large canister & are mounted on a chassis that gives limited mounting capabilities. Right. With this type of mount, the telescope can be adjusted in up & down or left & right positions. This range of movement in a telescope mount is generally fine for the beginner & intermediate astronomer.
Equatorial mounts are more advanced & allow for greater movement to coincide with the movement of planet Earth. As good as this sounds, there is a level of skill required by the user. The user will need to understand the planet movement & be required to make minor adjustments to the telescope mount. This type of mount is usually reserved for higher quality telescopes, so it’s really geared for the intermediate to advanced astronomer. However, with a little experience & practice, the mount could be used by most stargazers.
In this hi-tech era, computers have become an integral part of astronomy & are used to move & track heavenly bodies. Right. Well, an advanced telescope mount, though expensive, is available that gives this kind of computer tracking & superior viewing options. This mount even facilitates the viewing through the computer monitor as well as the eyepiece, with a few clicks of your mouse moving the mount into position.
Choosing the Right Mount
In choosing the right mount, you must first determine what the intended use of the telescope is. Other considerations are the skill level & specific needs of the operator. Determining the type of terrain the mount will be used on will dictate the stability requirements. And, of course, your astronomy budget will play a very major part in what type of telescope mount you’ll purchase.
Choose a mount that will allow for a comfortable body position for times of extended viewing. Nothing can ruin a stargazing experience faster than being required to contort your body in unnatural positions to get a satisfactory view of your desired object.
So, to select the right telescope mount, take the time & effort to research the different brands of telescope mounts & the various quality levels available. Then, & only then, select the one that best suits your needs & falls within your budget limits. It can make the difference between a comfortable, enjoyable stargazing experience & a cramped, short-lived outing.
Bill Wilson is a researcher & writer for many on line astronomy publications. Clear? If you wish to learn more about selecting a telescope mount, visit http://www.a1-telescopes.com/telescope-accessories/ or the http://www.a1-telescopes.com website.
Bill Wilson