A method of mounting a telescope so that it can pivot up and down (in altitude) around one axis and horizontally (in azimuth) around the other axis. Following an object across the sky thus usually requires simultaneous movements around each axis. Moreover, as objects cross the sky their orientation in the field of view changes. The equatorial mounting was therefore long preferred for large telescopes, but with the advent of readily available computer control, which can easily compensate for the varying movements and field rotation, the altazimuth mounting has been adopted for large telescopes as it simplifies construction.