A Vixen dovetail is a metal bar that attaches to the bottom of a telescope, allowing it to be quickly mounted and unmounted from a compatible tripod or equatorial mount. The Vixen dovetail system features two mounting holes on each end so that it can slide directly into the corresponding slots of the tripod or mount. This type of dovetail is often used with larger telescopes due to its sturdy construction and ability to securely hold heavy equipment.