What is an altazimuth mounting used for in telescopes?

An altazimuth mounting is specifically designed for telescopes to provide movement in two perpendicular axes: altitude (up and down) and azimuth (horizontal movement). This type of mount allows astronomers to easily track celestial objects as they move across the sky due to the Earth's rotation. By adjusting the telescope's position in altitude and azimuth, an observer can follow the path of planets, stars, and other astronomical phenomena without the need for complicated adjustments.

The design of the altazimuth mount makes it user-friendly, especially for beginners, as it mirrors the way we naturally move our heads to look around. It is a common choice for many types of telescopes, particularly those used for casual observation or in educational settings, since moving the telescope in both these directions closely resembles how we view objects in our environment.