Figure 71 shows a 4¼ inch telescope and mount by Zeiss thus
equipped. Some alt-azimuth mounts are also provided with a vertical
rack motion to bring the telescope to a convenient height without
disturbing the tripod. A good alt-azimuth mount such as is shown in
Figs. 70 and 71 is by no means to be despised for use with telescopes
of 3 or 4 inch aperture.
The sole inconvenience to be considered is that of the two motions
required in following. With well fitted slow motions this is not really
serious for ordinary observing with moderate powers, for one can work
very comfortably up to powers of 150 or 200 diameters keeping the
object easily in view; but with the higher powers in which the field is
very small, only a few minutes of arc, the double motion becomes rather
a nuisance and it is extremely inconvenient even with low powers in
sweeping for an object the place of which is not exactly known.
There are in fact two distinct kinds of following necessary in
astronomical observations. First, the mere keeping of the object
somewhere in the field, and second, holding it somewhat rigorously in
position, as in making close observations of detail or micrometrical
measurements. When this finer following is necessary the sooner one
gets away from alt-azimuth mounts the better.
Still another form of alt-azimuth mount is shown in Fig. 72 applied for
a Newtonian reflector of 6 or 8 inches aperture. Here the overhung fork
carrying the tube on trunnions is supported on a stout fixed tripod, to
which it is pivoted at the front, and it is provided at the rear with a
firm bearing on a sector borne by the tripod.
At the front a rod with sliding coarse, and screw fine, adjustment
provides the necessary motion in altitude. The whole fork is swung
about its pivot over the sector bearing by a cross screw turned by a
rod with a universal joint.
This mount strongly suggests the original one of Hadley, Fig. 16, and
is most firm and serviceable. A reflector thus mounted is remarkably
convenient in that the eyepiece is always in a most accessible
position, the view always horizontal, and the adjustments always within
easy reach of the observer.
[Illustration: FIG. 72.—Alt-azimuth Newtonian Reflector.]
Whenever it is necessary to follow an object closely, as in using
a micrometer and some other auxiliaries, the alt-azimuth mount is
troublesome and some modification adjustable by a single motion,
preferably made automatic by clockwork, becomes necessary.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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