what is a mounting system in a telescope what does it do and can you make your own at home

A mounting system in a telescope is a crucial component that supports the telescope and allows it to move and point towards different areas in the sky. There are two main types of mounts: Altazimuth and Equatorial.

1. Altazimuth Mount: This is the simplest type of mount with two motions, altitude (up and down) and azimuth (side to side).

2. Equatorial Mount: This is a bit more complex and allows the telescope to follow the rotation of the sky with one motion.

The mount is responsible for the stability and movement of the telescope. It allows the user to track objects as they move across the sky.

As for making your own mount at home, it is possible, but it requires some technical skills and materials. You would need to design and build a mount that can steadily support your telescope and allow it to move in at least two directions. There are many guides available online that can help you with this process. However, it's important to note that precision is key in this process, as any instability or jerkiness in the mount can greatly affect your ability to view objects in the sky.