Mounts

Tracking the sky

The earth turns, which means the sky drifts at 15° an hour. A mount is what cancels that drift — and it matters more than the scope.

Alt-az vs equatorial

alt-az      up-down / left-right · simple, stable, visual
equatorial  aligned to the pole · tracks with one motor
goto        finds objects for you · convenience at a cost

Why it matters

For visual astronomy, a sturdy alt-az beats a wobbly equatorial every time. For imaging, you need equatorial, full stop.