9
Alligning your telescope to Polaris
Unlock the DEC lock knob and rotate the telescope tube until
the pointer on the setting circle reads 90˚. Retighten the DEC
lock knob. Move the tripod so that the equatorial mount faces
north and the R.A. axis points roughly at Polaris. A hand
campass is useful for this step. Use the two azimuth
adjustment knobs on the mount base to make fine
adjustments in azimuth if needed (Fig.g-2). For more
accurate allignment, look through the finderscope and centre
the Polaris on the crosshairs.
Southern Hemisphere
In the Southern Hemisphere you must align the mount to the
SCP by locating its position with star patterns, without the
convenience of a nearby bright star. The closest star is the
faint 5.5-mag. Sigma Octanis which is about one degree
away. Two sets of pointers which help to locate the SCP are
alpha and beta Crucis (in the Southern Cross) and a pointer
running at a right angle to a line connecting alpha and beta
Centauri (Fig.g-3).
+
Polaris
Cassiopeia
Little Dipper
Big Dipper
NCP
T
he Polarscope
omega
Octanis
alpha
Centauri
beta
Centauri
alpha
Crucis
beta
Crucis
SCP +
The pole-finder telescope supplied with the EQ-6 Mount can
be used for accurate polar alignment. This method of polar
alignment is sufficient for virtually all visual use of the
telescope.
To use the Polarscope with the EQ-6 mount, the declination
axis must be rotated such that the hole in the shaft is in front
of the Polarscope. If possible, this procedure should be
carried out while the telescope and counterweights are on
the mount. This prevents the mount from becoming mis-
aligned when the load on the tripod is changed. Be sure that
the tripod is level. This will make it easier to use the Azimuth
and Altitude adjustments on the mount when trying to center
the stars in the polar scope. The tripod can be made level by
using a bubble level or carpenter's level. Remove the caps
from the upper and lower ends of the Right Ascension (R.A.)
axis (Fig.h). Looking through the polar scope, lines should be
seen super-imposed on the sky. If these lines are not visible,
shine a red flashlight down the upper end of the RA axis to
illuminate the top end of the pole finder.
Aligning the Polarscope
The optical axis of the polar scope is already aligned with the
rotation axis of the mount. The optical axis of the polar scope
can not be adjusted. This is set permanently at the factory.
The reticle in the polar scope must be centered on the optical
axis of the polar scope. If this is not the case, the polar
alignment will not be accurate.
Fig.h
P
o
wer
DC 12V
Fig.g-1
Fig.g-2
Fig.g-3
Summary of Contents for SK P25012EQ6-2IN
Page 1: ...SK P25012EQ6 2IN...
