ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses robotic mounts; those with motorized axes that are capable of “goto” operation, in which they are commanded to slew to a particular coordinate in the sky. Many dual-axis goto mounts, sometimes called robotic mounts, have a handset loaded with alignment protocols and catalogs of major deep sky and stellar objects. Cost-conscious designs often target the unexciting tripod for compromise. Light-weight models packaged with a mount may benefit from upgrading: there are several companies that make piers and tripods (in aluminum, carbon fiber, steel and wood) and supplied with adaptor plates to suit the popular mounts. Most telescopes are kept assembled to a dovetail plate for convenience usually via a clam-shell or tube rings that clamp the telescope. The general concept ensures that the telescope is balanced about the declination and right ascension axes so that the mount’s motors are not put under undue strain in any orientation.