ASTRO-PHYSICS German Equatorial 1200GTO, Manual, Page: 19 / 38

2. Follow one of the methods of polar alignment mentioned above.
3. During the initial adjustment phase, the 4 lock-down knobs should be hand tight only. This will allow easy
movement of the azimuth axis.
4. When you are close to the final position of the azimuth axis, use a hex key to lock down the rear knob only. The
azimuth can still be moved with the adjusters, but it will now be solidly connected to the pier top. The other knobs
should remain hand-tight. The weight of the mount and scope puts pressure on the front of the plate for a solid
connection, so it is not necessary to lock them down fully with a hex key.
Altitude Adjustment
Loosen the altitude locking knobs. Move the polar axis up or down with the large altitude adjustment knob located in the front
of the polar axis assembly. The tommy bar can be positioned in any of the threaded holes located in the altitude adjustment
knob. Use this bar to help you turn the knob. Please refer to the illustrations on pages 7 and 8 if you are unsure about these
parts. It is also possible to make fine altitude adjustments by using the turnbuckle on the north leg of our pier, if used.
One full turn of the altitude knob is approximately 0.5 degrees (30 arc minutes).
Tips for Adjusting the Altitude
The mount's polar axis is held in place between the two side plates. It is possible for the mount to shift slightly when the side
bolts are fully tightened down after adjustment of the altitude angle. To prevent that, it is suggested that the initial altitude
adjustment be done with these bolts hand tight, and as you approach the final adjustment point, tighten the bolts with a hex
key after each movement. If you move the axis too high and overshoot the angle, it is better to loosen the two bolts a bit,
bring the axis back down a very small amount and progress back up with the bolts hand tight. This way you are using the
weight of the mount to insure a solid connection to the altitude adjuster. During the final adjustment phase, screw the Tommy
bar into one of the holes in the knob. This bar can then be used as fine adjustment tool and is a good indication of the
position of the axis.
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