The Half Hitch alt-az mount is easy:

• Easy to set up

• Easy to carry

• Easy to use

• Easy to travel

• Easy to adapt

However, the Half Hitch alt-az telescope mount performs so well that you will never outgrow it!

1.  Stand up the tripod.  2.  Attach the Half Hitch with a single knob.  3.  Attach the telescope by engaging the dovetail plate.  A simple two-star alignment will then allow you to locate objects under computer direction.

This entire package with Stellarvue 80 ED telescope weighs only 19 pounds.  As shown below, it will pack into a volume about the size of a picnic basket and a 6-pack cooler — very outing friendly.  A 90 mm telescope rig on a slightly beefier tripod weighs around 24 pounds (or 20 pounds on a carbon-fiber tripod).  A typical Half Hitch mounted 102 mm telescope outfit will tip the scale around 31 pounds — but can weigh as little as 25 pounds with a carefully chosen OTA and tripod.

Any telescope is of no value unless it gets used!  Observe more with the Half Hitch!