When you look at getting your first telescope or upgrading to something new, you will want to consider what mount to get. The mount is the part that allows you to move the telescope. The mount sits on top of the tripod, and a telescope will be on the mount. The mount will move the telescope and point it at the objects you wish to see.
Types of Telescope Mounts
There are three main types of telescope mounts. Alt-Azimuth mounts, Equatorial mounts and hybrid mounts that combine both.
Alt-Azimuth Mounts
Alt-Azimuth, or Alt-Az, mounts are very popular for beginners because they are easy to use and quick to set up. They move the telescope on two axes, altitude (up and down) and azimuth (left and right). These mounts are best for star gazing and do not require complicated setups. They are not suited for long exposure photos or tasks that need accurate tracking because they move in a zig-zag pattern to follow the curvature movement of objects in space.
If you wish to star gaze or observe celestial objects, an Alt-Az is a simple way to get started without having to learn a complicated setup process.
Equatorial Mounts
Equatorial Mounts, also known as German equatorial mounts, are designed to follow the curvature of the earth and the movement of objects in space. This type of mount is the best choice for long-exposure astrophotography. When you want to take a photo with an exposure time of above 10 seconds, it is recommended to use an EQ mount because that is the only way to get good tracking to allow for clear images over a long period of time. EQ mounts have traditionally been more difficult to use as they require a process of aligning the mount correctly called polar alignment. Pola alignment requires the mount to be aligned with the northern star in the northern hemisphere or to the south in the southern hemisphere. Pola alignment has become a lot easier with modern technology. Some computer software and equipment can do this without you needing to be in the line of sight of the correct star.
If you are going to do astrophotography then you should get an equatorial mount with tracking.
Hybrid Mounts
Recently technology has allowed for the ability to have mounts that can be used as an EQ mount or an Alt-Az mount. These are usually powered by a harmonic drive which helps move the mount in the correct direction and also allows for high load capacity.
Hybrid harmonic drive mounts are most commonly used for astrophotography. Harmonic drive mounts are able to be used for observing. They are more expensive than other mounts. They are the ideal choice if your main use for them will be imaging.
Quick Mount Usage Table
| MOUNT TYPE | USAGE |
| Alt-Azimuth Mount | Star gazing, observing and looking at planets, the moon and the sun. Not recommended for taking photos that require a long exposure time of more than 10 seconds. |
| Equatorial Mount | Astrophotography imaging and tasks that require precise tracking of objects in the sky. Most commonly used to take deep sky images of nebula and star clusters. |
| Hybrid Mount | Usually better suited for astrophotography imaging but they can be used for looking at planets, the moon and the sun. |