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 How do I polar align my telescope using my latitude?
Answer

Polar alignment of your equatorial mount can be done in several ways. The easiest way is to use your latitude.

The polar axis of an equatorially mounted scope must point at or be polar-aligned to the north celestial pole, the point in the sky around which all the other stars appear to rotate. The pole is directly above the north point on the horizon. So your axis must point both north and also be tilted up at an angle. Since the altitude of the north celestial pole is always equal to your latitude on the earth, you can just use the scope’s latitude adjustment to raise the polar axis to the right angle.

For the AstroMaster EQs, the scale ranges from 0 to 80 degrees.

Either look on a map, use Google Earth or an almanac to find your observing site’s latitude.  Unlock the latitude adjustment screw on the side of the mount and turn the latitude adjustment screw on the back of the mount until the index on the polar axis reads your latitude. Tighten the side latitude adjustment screw.

Now complete the polar alignment by turning the entire mount (not either axis – both should be clamped tightly) to align the upwards end of the polar axis with north on the horizon. If doing this at night, north is located directly below Polaris, the Pole Star.



Article Details
Article ID: 1846
Created On: Oct 08 2008 02:09 PM

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