{"title":"Explore Scientific Alt-Azimuth Mounts","description":"\u003cp\u003eEvery Explore Scientific alt-azimuth mount we carry. Part of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/alt-az-mounts\"\u003eAlt-Azimuth Mounts\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"twilight-i-mount","title":"Explore Scientific Twilight I 18 lb Alt-Azimuth Mount with Tripod","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Twilight I is Explore Scientific's adjustable-angle alt-azimuth mount and tripod, rated for a telescope weight of 18 pounds. The head is powder-coated aluminium, 14″ x 7″ x 4″, running worm gears on both axes with slow-motion control cables and oversized knurled knobs. The legs are stainless steel with a spreader bar, and the tripod opens to a 42″ footprint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific publishes the head at 6.6 lb (3.0 kg), the tripod base at 11 lb (5.0 kg) and the assembled mount at 16.7 lb (7.6 kg). Height is adjustable across a wide range: with the head fitted and the legs retracted the highest point is 38.5″, with 36″ to the centre of the mounting bracket; with the legs fully extended those figures become 55.5″ and 53″.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe head tilts through an adjustable 45-degree angle. That is the feature that separates it from a plain alt-azimuth head: tipping the azimuth axis lets a straight-through refractor reach the zenith without the eyepiece ending up under the tripod.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRefractor owners up to 18 pounds:\u003c\/strong\u003e the published telescope capacity covers most short and medium refractors along with their diagonal, finder and a heavy eyepiece.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers who want to be looking through the telescope within a minute of arriving:\u003c\/strong\u003e there is no polar alignment, no power and no initialisation — the mount points where you push it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAnyone observing near the zenith with a straight-through tube:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a good match if you have found yourself lying on the ground to reach the eyepiece on a conventional alt-azimuth head. The 45-degree adjustable tilt exists for exactly that.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers who use gloves:\u003c\/strong\u003e the oversized knurled knobs on the slow-motion cables were sized with cold hands in mind.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOutreach and travel use,\u003c\/strong\u003e where the 42″ collapsed-with-head length and 16.7 lb total are easier to move than an equatorial head plus counterweights.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e18 pound published telescope capacity,\u003c\/strong\u003e which is the figure to measure your loaded tube against.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWorm gears on both axes:\u003c\/strong\u003e a worm drive gives fine, backlash-controlled motion that a friction head cannot, and it holds position when you let go.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdjustable 45-degree tilt\u003c\/strong\u003e on the head, so a straight-through refractor can reach high altitudes with the eyepiece in a workable place.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSlow-motion control cables\u003c\/strong\u003e with oversized knurled knobs on both axes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePowder-coated aluminium head,\u003c\/strong\u003e 14″ x 7″ x 4″, weighing 6.6 lb (3.0 kg).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStainless steel tripod\u003c\/strong\u003e with adjustable legs and a spreader bar, 11 lb (5.0 kg), opening to a 42″ footprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWide height range:\u003c\/strong\u003e 36″ to the centre of the mounting bracket with the legs in, 53″ with them fully out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e16.7 lb (7.6 kg) assembled,\u003c\/strong\u003e and 42″ long when collapsed with the head attached.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisual observing with short and medium refractors up to the published 18 pound capacity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLightweight Newtonian and Maksutov tubes within the same weight limit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrab-and-go sessions where setup time matters more than tracking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLunar, planetary and double-star work at moderate power, where the slow-motion cables keep the target centred by hand.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTerrestrial and daytime use, spotting scopes included.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublic outreach, where a mount that anyone can push to a new target is an advantage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTelescope weight:\u003c\/strong\u003e the published limit is 18 pounds. A tube close to that figure will feel better on it than one over it, and the diagonal, finder and eyepiece all count toward the total.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSaddle fitting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore Scientific does not publish the dovetail standard the head accepts, so that row is absent below rather than estimated. Send us the dovetail bar on your telescope and we will put the question to our Explore Scientific rep before you order.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 36″ to 53″ to the centre of the mounting bracket covers seated observing through to standing observing with a long refractor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTracking:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a manual mount. Motion is by hand and by the slow-motion cables; there is no motor drive and no computerised pointing published for it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTransport:\u003c\/strong\u003e 42″ collapsed with the head on, 29.5″ with the head removed, so the head-off figure is the one that matters for a car boot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt is an alt-azimuth mount, so it moves in altitude and azimuth rather than following the sky on one axis.\u003c\/strong\u003e For visual observing that is simply how you drive it. Long-exposure deep-sky imaging asks for an equatorial or a tracking alt-azimuth head, and we stock both if that is where you are heading.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e18 pounds is the published telescope capacity,\u003c\/strong\u003e not the total including accessories. Weighing your tube with the diagonal, finder and heaviest eyepiece on it gives the number that actually matters, and we are happy to sanity-check it with you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe dovetail standard is not published.\u003c\/strong\u003e Rather than guess, we will confirm it with Explore Scientific for your specific telescope — ask and we will find out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe whole assembly is 16.7 lb.\u003c\/strong\u003e That is a comfortable one-trip carry for most people, though the head detaches if you would rather split the load.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo telescope is included.\u003c\/strong\u003e The mount head and tripod are what ships. If you are pairing it with a tube, we can quote the two together.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The tripod legs extend and lock, the spreader bar sets the spread, the head bolts to the tripod, and the telescope goes on the mounting bracket. There is no polar alignment, no levelling routine and no power. From the boot of a car to observing is a couple of minutes, and the only decision along the way is how far to extend the legs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat size telescope will it carry?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific publishes an 18 pound telescope capacity. Refractors in the 80mm to 127mm range typically fall well inside that, as do small Maksutovs and short Newtonians. Tell us your tube and we will tell you honestly how it will sit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it track the stars?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot by itself. It is a manual mount with slow-motion control cables on both axes, so keeping an object centred at high power is done by hand with the knobs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the 45-degree tilt for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaching the zenith. On a flat alt-azimuth head a straight-through refractor puts the eyepiece near ground level when the tube points straight up. Tilting the head moves the eyepiece back to a workable height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow tall does it stand?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the head fitted, 38.5″ at its highest point with the legs retracted and 55.5″ with them fully extended. Measured to the centre of the mounting bracket, which is the figure that determines eyepiece height, it is 36″ to 53″.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it during the day?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. An alt-azimuth head with slow-motion controls suits spotting scopes and terrestrial observing as readily as it suits the night sky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: an 18 pound capacity alt-azimuth mount with worm gears on both axes, slow-motion cables, an adjustable 45-degree head tilt for zenith work, and a stainless steel tripod that reaches 53″ to the mounting bracket — 16.7 lb assembled and ready in a couple of minutes. If you would like us to check how your telescope sits on it, send us the model and the dovetail it uses and we will work it out with you.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44012381962351,"sku":"MAZ01-00","price":415.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/twilighti1__82330.jpg?v=1766547923"},{"product_id":"u-mount-with-tripod-for-large-binoculars","title":"Explore Scientific U-Mount and Field Tripod for 70-120mm Binoculars, 12 kg Capacity","description":"\u003ch2\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific U-mount with field tripod is a fork-style binocular mount and tripod sold as one unit, designed for the Explore Scientific BT giant binocular series and for most other binoculars with a 70 mm to 120 mm objective and a 1\/4-inch photo thread on the underside. Explore Scientific publishes a load capacity of up to 12 kg, a maximum binocular width of 290 mm, a magnesium housing, and a total net weight of 11,300 g across mount and tripod together.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnything from 70 mm to 120 mm of objective is too heavy to hold steady by hand for more than a few seconds, and the view a big binocular can give only arrives once it stops moving. This mount is specified for exactly that class. The fork geometry is the reason to choose it over a photo tripod head: the binocular sits between two arms rather than on top of a plate, so the eyepieces stay clear of the mount right through to the zenith, which is where a conventional head runs out of travel and starts fighting you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also suits shared observing. A mounted binocular holds its target while a group takes turns, which is what makes it work at an outreach night.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLoad capacity of up to 12 kg, for binoculars with 70 mm to 120 mm objectives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaximum binocular width of 290 mm across the tubes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFork-style U-mount clearing the eyepieces through the full elevation range\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e360 degrees of azimuth travel and 0 to 90 degrees of altitude\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInfinitely variable friction adjustment on both axes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMagnesium housing; aluminium tripod with 50 mm stainless steel legs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorking height adjustable from roughly 100 cm to 140 cm, folding to 80 cm for transport\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuick-change adapter plate with two 1\/4-inch threaded connections\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntegrated aluminium accessory tray that also braces the legs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e11,300 g total net weight, of which the tripod is 5.8 kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMechanical Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFriction adjustment rather than locking knobs is the design decision that matters most here. A locking mount has two states — clamped and free — and nothing useful in between, so you unlock, overshoot, relock. Infinitely variable friction lets you set a tension where the binocular stays where you point it but still moves under steady hand pressure, which is what makes slow sweeping along the Milky Way possible at all. The magnesium housing serves stiffness against weight: a fork carries its load on two cantilevered arms, and any flex there shows up as a wobble at the eyepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe tripod does the damping. Aluminium with 50 mm stainless steel legs and an accessory tray tying them together is a stiffer structure than three unbraced legs, and vibration that does start dies faster. Height runs about 100 cm to 140 cm with the mount fitted, and the legs retract to 80 cm to go in a car.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWide-field binocular astronomy — open clusters, Milky Way star fields, large nebulae and comets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExtended lunar and bright-object viewing where hand shake would otherwise end the session early\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMeteor watching and satellite passes, where the fork's free elevation range earns its keep\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutreach and star parties, since a mounted binocular holds its target between viewers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTerrestrial, wildlife and marine viewing from a fixed position\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBinoculars are not included. The published envelope is a 70 mm to 120 mm objective, a maximum width of 290 mm across the tubes, and a total weight within the 12 kg capacity — check your binocular against all three rather than aperture alone, because a wide-bodied 100 mm pair can foul the fork arms even when it is comfortably inside the weight limit. Attachment is by the quick-change plate, which carries two 1\/4-inch threaded connections, the standard fitting on binocular tripod adapters and L-brackets. This is a binocular mount with no dovetail saddle, so it is not intended to carry a telescope. Send us your binocular model and we will confirm the fit before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 11,300 g for mount and tripod together this is a carry, not a stroll — it is designed to be set up where you park rather than walked across a field. The footprint is 1,000 mm square with the legs open, which is worth measuring against a balcony or small deck if that is where it will live. There is no motor and no tracking: objects drift at the sidereal rate and are re-centred by hand, which is the normal way binocular astronomy is done and part of why the friction adjustment matters. If you are running a BT-150 rather than a 70-120 mm binocular, that is a heavier instrument than this mount is rated for and Explore Scientific offers a separate U-mount for it — ask us.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. The legs open, the mount head goes on top, and the binocular attaches to the quick-change plate once and then drops on and off. The only adjustment worth a minute is the friction on each axis, set by feel with the binocular already mounted.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it hold my binoculars?\u003c\/strong\u003e If they are 70 mm to 120 mm, under 290 mm wide and inside 12 kg, yes. Send us the make and model and we will check all three figures for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I look straight up with it?\u003c\/strong\u003e That is the point of the fork. The binocular pivots between the arms, so the eyepieces stay clear at high elevation where a conventional tripod head would run out of movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it come with the tripod?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — mount, field tripod, quick-change plate and accessory tray all come together. Binoculars are the only part chosen separately.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA magnesium fork mount and braced steel-and-aluminium field tripod sold as one unit, rated to 12 kg, with infinitely variable friction on both axes and full clearance to the zenith. It is the difference between glancing through a big binocular and actually observing with it. Tell our Bolton team which binocular you own and we will confirm the fit.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44013673971823,"sku":"01-14300","price":1039.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/U-mount_2525201__62352.1682640750.1280.1280.jpg?v=1766559262"}],"url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/collections\/alt-azimuth-explore-scientific.oembed","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}