Mounts

They keep your binoculars steady, and spare you the physical fatigue that comes from looking up with hand held binoculars for a prolonged period of time. But although the concept of binocular mounts is simple, the devices can be quite complex, and expensive. Some amateur astronomers prefer to make their own wooden binoculars mount. But these people generally know just what they require of a binoculars mount, and how to build in the components they want. If you are a beginner at astronomy, you are probably better off to buy a good binoculars mount. But there are so many kinds of binocular mounts, which one is best for you?

There are a number of points to keep in mind when shopping for an astronomy binocular mount. Some binocular supports allow you to look only just above the horizon. You should have a binocular mount that permits you to observe a larger portion of the sky, and as near to the zenith as possible. It should be capable of supporting large, heavy binoculars. It is very important that your binoculars mount be relatively easy to set up and take down. It should be adaptable to different kinds of binoculars. You don’t want a binocular mount that is too fragile. It should be able to take a certain amount of bouncing around in the car or on a rugged hike. Choose a mount that is complete and ready to use, especially if you are a beginner. You don’t want to have to make a lot of adjustments to get setting just right. Another point, and one that many first-timers don’t think of; get a mount that can be adapted so other people can look through the binoculars. If you want to share what you see in the sky with family and friends, bear in mind that they are not all the same height as you.

There are a wide variety of binocular mounts, all with special features. A pistol grip binocular mount provides maneuverability. Spring parallelogram binocular mounts allow the binoculars to be moved up and down to adjust for the height of the person, while remaining pointed at the same place in the sky. A binoculars fork mount is one of the best for giant binoculars. There is the garden mount, which you can set up in the backyard on a permanent base, and leave it out with no worry of damage from the elements. There are even specially designed binocular mounts for kids and for wheelchairs.

There is a wide range of brand names from which to choose. Many experienced star gazers recommend the Universal binocular mount, which is the Millenium Unimount by Universal Astronomics. Others like the Celestron Vistapix binoculars support accessories. Some amateur astronomers complain that Tasco binoculars will not mount on a tripod, but other people express satisfaction with this company’s optical products. Ask questions, shop smart, and you’ll more than likely get the mount that best suits your needs.