<p>I am NOT an astronomy person, so this may be a dumb question, however I have recently found a tripod that appears to be for star tracking as far as I can guess. I would like to know the type of tripod and if possible the brand as it is not labeled and I do not know how to operate it. </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/oadVw.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/oadVw.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/vl71E.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/vl71E.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/fBYaI.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/fBYaI.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-25T08:51:04.483Z
Seems to be an alt-az type - that is, it can go left-right and up-down, but doesn't align directly with the Polar axis for star tracking.  It may well be a video camera tripod - the red "switch" looks, to me, like a brake/lock to hold the vertical position.  (It could probably be used for amateur astronomy if that's what you want to do.)
Andy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-25T08:55:15.287Z
Well My hope was to adapt a DSLR tripod mounting shoe so that I can do very long photo exposures without trailing stars
Cory Baumer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-25T20:17:32.920Z
Then you'll need an equatorial mount with a tracking motor. [Some suggestions](https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/wiki/what_telescope#wiki_.241050_-_dsos). An alt-az mount will limit exposures to 20-40 seconds due to field rotation, even if you add a motor for tracking; see [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQB6UnrTEEM) for an  explanation. If you're using a short focal length lens, not a telescope or supertele, options include [barndoor or automated trackers](http://www.budgetastro.net/tracking-the-stars.html).
j-g-faustus
<telescope><star-gazing>
Identify this 2 axis motorized tripod
Cory Baumer
# Identify this 2 axis motorized tripod

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-25)

I am NOT an astronomy person, so this may be a dumb question, however I have recently found a tripod that appears to be for star tracking as far as I can guess. I would like to know the type of tripod and if possible the brand as it is not labeled and I do not know how to operate it.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/oadVw.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/oadVw.jpg)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/vl71E.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/vl71E.jpg)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/fBYaI.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/fBYaI.jpg)

**Tags:** telescope, star-gazing

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Seems to be an alt-az type - that is, it can go left-right and up-down, but doesn't align directly with the Polar axis for star tracking.  It may well be a video camera tripod - the red "switch" looks, to me, like a brake/lock to hold the vertical position.  (It could probably be used for amateur astronomy if that's what you want to do.)  
> **username_0**: Well My hope was to adapt a DSLR tripod mounting shoe so that I can do very long photo exposures without trailing stars  
> **username_2**: Then you'll need an equatorial mount with a tracking motor. [Some suggestions](https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/wiki/what_telescope#wiki_.241050_-_dsos). An alt-az mount will limit exposures to 20-40 seconds due to field rotation, even if you add a motor for tracking; see [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQB6UnrTEEM) for an  explanation. If you're using a short focal length lens, not a telescope or supertele, options include [barndoor or automated trackers](http://www.budgetastro.net/tracking-the-stars.html).  

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## 0 answers

