Instruction Manual

Pointer

Figure 29: Latitude Scale with pointer

Locating the Celestial Pole

In the northern Hemisphere, find the North Star

Polaris by facing North. To get basic bearings

at an observing location, take note of where the

Sun rises (East) and sets (West) each day. After

the site is dark, face North by pointing your left

shoulder toward where the Sun set. To precise-

ly point at the pole, find the North Star (Polaris)

by using the Big Dipper as a guide (See figure

below).

In the southern Hemisphere, you align the

mount to the southern celestial pole. To do this

it is necessary to reference star patterns since

the southern celestial pole has no nearby bright

stars. The closest bright star to the south celes-

tial pole is Sigma Octanis, which is about one

degree away. Using Sigma Octanis and other

bright stars will help you locate the pole.

Toward

True North

Figure 30: RA Polar Axis

toward True North (Polaris)

Figure 31: RA Polar Axis

toward True North (Polaris)

Polaris

Little Dipper

Big Dipper

Cassiopeia

Figure 32 : Finding Polaris (North Star) For Northern

Hemisphere observers

Toward

True North

(North Star)

Top View

Side

View