It can be aligned with the plane of the ecliptic and is geared so that you can follow the apparent motion of a star or planet all night long. Camera adapters allow you to mount your 35mm SLR camera on your tripod, giving the equivalent of a very long telephoto lens. We've got them at Chris' Camera Center. They also reduce the light and the field of view. The image is much brighter and sharper, but things look smaller.
Barlow lenses are like teleconverters on cameras.
Perfect for observing things on our own planet, and almost essential for tracking fast motion. They also let you stand or sit comfortably for viewing. Most good telescopes are too big. Most small telescopes aren't very good. It's a thing of beauty, too.