Mount Type for Telescopes: How to Choose Yours

How do I check if a mount can handle my telescope?

To determine if a mount is suitable, you must check the weight capacity and the balance requirements of the telescope and its accessories. Manufacturers usually list a maximum weight limit in kilograms or pounds on the product’s technical specification sheet.

Checking the weight limit

The weight limit of a mount applies to the entire payload, which includes the optical tube, the camera, any finderscopes, and the eyepiece holder. If your total equipment weight is near the stated limit, the mount may struggle to move smoothly or suffer from mechanical strain. We recommend choosing a mount with a weight capacity that is at least 20% higher than your actual equipment weight to ensure longevity.

Understanding counterweight requirements

Equatorial mounts require a counterweight to balance the weight of the telescope against the mount’s axis. You can identify the need for this by looking for “counterweight” in the specifications or by seeing a threaded shaft on the mount’s side. If a mount does not list a counterweight, it is likely an Alt-Azimuth or Dobsonian design where the weight is supported by the base’s footprint.

What happens if I choose the wrong mount type?

Choosing a mount that does not match your intended use results in specific mechanical failures that can ruin the viewing experience. These failures are usually tied to either the movement style or the weight capacity of the mount.

Tracking issues with Alt-Azimuth mounts

If you attempt deep-sky photography with an Alt-Azimuth mount, the stars will appear as streaks rather than points of light. Because this mount type moves in two axes, it cannot compensate for the Earth’s rotation in a way that keeps a stationary object centered in the frame over several minutes. You will find that you are limited to “lucky imaging” of planets or short-exposure photos.

You can further refine your search by comparing different types of optical design for telescopes.

Stability issues with underpowered mounts

If you choose a mount with a weight capacity too close to your equipment’s actual weight, you will experience “periodic error” or “tracking drift.” This shows up as a shaky image or a telescope that slowly drifts away from the target. On a mount that is under-powered, the gears may lack the torque to move the heavy tube smoothly, leading to jerky movements during tracking.

What should I do if I fall between two mount types?

If you find yourself torn between an Alt-Azimuth and an Equatorial mount, you must decide based on your primary goal for the first year of ownership. If your goal is to spend time looking through the eyepiece and learning the constellations, the Alt-Azimuth mount is the correct choice.

Choosing the direction of the mount

When you are undecided, choose the mount that simplifies your setup process. An Alt-Azimuth mount can be set up and used in minutes because it does not require precise polar alignment. If you find that you eventually want to do photography, it is often easier to start with an Alt-Azimuth mount and upgrade later than to struggle with a complex Equatorial mount that you find frustrating to use.

Choosing between weight capacities

If you are between two weight capacities, always choose the higher capacity. A mount with a higher weight rating will generally have larger gears and more robust motors, which provides smoother movement for your specific telescope. Even if your telescope is well within the lower limit, the extra overhead in the higher-rated mount ensures that the gears do not have to work at their maximum torque to move the tube.

Reviewed by the RecommendedOptics editorial team. RecommendedOptics writes these guides from the 200 most-reviewed telescope listings in our retail dataset, not from manufacturer copy.