Which mounting allows a telescope to move in both horizontal and vertical directions?

The altazimuth mounting is designed to allow a telescope to move in both horizontal (azimuth) and vertical (altitude) directions. This type of mount is very intuitive and user-friendly, making it suitable for casual stargazing as well as for beginners in astronomy.

In practical use, this means that the telescope can be easily aimed at objects in the sky by adjusting both the horizontal and vertical axes. When you want to observe an object, you can simply pan left or right (azimuth) as well as tilt up or down (altitude) to get the object in view.

The other types of mounts mentioned serve different purposes. For instance, equatorial mountings are designed to track celestial objects as they move across the sky by aligning one axis with the Earth's rotation. Fork mounts typically refer to a specific design of the altazimuth mount but add additional features for tracking and stability. German mounts are a type of equatorial mount, distinguished by their ability to track an object smoothly along a single axis.

The versatility and ease of movement in both horizontal and vertical directions provided by the altazimuth mounting make it particularly effective for a wide range of observational needs in astronomy.