Telescope Mountings

Abstract

Telescope mountings divide into two distinct sections. The first is the set of mechanical components that hold the optics of the telescope in their correct relative positions, and allow them to be collimated and to be focused. This section is normally called the telescope tube and reference is made to it in Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 8. Here, therefore, we are concerned with the second section, which is the set of mechanical components that enables the telescope tube and the optics to be pointed at the object to be studied, and in most cases then to compensate for the Earth’s rotation (i.e. to track the object) automatically. Reference to this section of the mounting has also been made elsewhere (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8), but we now look at its specifications in more detail. In this chapter, we shall use the term mounting to refer only to this second section from now onwards.