Instruction manual

11
Remove the caps from the upper and lower ends of the
Right Ascension (R.A.) axis (Fig.g). Looking through the
polar scope, lines should be seen super-imposed on the
sky. If these lines are not visible, shine a red flashlight
across the upper end of the RA axis to illuminate the top
end of the pole finder. Figure b shows the view through
the pole finder. Line drawings representing the Big Dipper
and Cassiopeia are used for the Northern Hemisphere.
The third line drawing represents Octans and is used for
the Southern Hemisphere. The circle in the center of the
field indicates the path Polaris makes around the North
Celestial Pole.
Simple Methods
Northern Hemisphere
There is only one easily visible star near the North
Celestial Pole. This star is Polaris. The rest of the stars in
Ursa Minor are around Magnitude 5 and require very
dark skies to become visible. Since Polaris is not exactly
on the North Celestial Pole, the telescope's R.A. axis
must be offset from Polaris by a small amount in the
correct direction.
By using the line drawings of the Big Dipper and
Cassiopeia, the RA shaft can be rotated so the view in
the pole finder is similar to the view of the sky. This can
be done by using one eye to look through the pole finder
while using the other eye to look at the sky. This
procedure takes some practice. Adjust the mount in
Altitude and Azimuth, until Polaris is in the small circle on
the line in the pole finder (Fig.g-1). The polar alignment is
now complete. This should get the mount's R.A. axis
within 5 arc-minutes of the celestial pole.
Southern Hemisphere
There is a 4-star pattern in the polar scope, which
resembles the bucket of the Big Dipper. In the Southern
Hemisphere, there is an Asterism in Octans, which has
this shape. By rotating the R.A. axis and by adjusting
the altitude and azimuth of the mount, the four stars in
the Asterism can be placed in the circles in the Pole
Finder (Fig.g-2). This procedure can be somewhat
difficult in the city because all four of these stars are
fainter than Magnitude 5.
Fig.g
P
o
w
e
r

D
C
1
2
V
(diagram applicable to both mounts)
P
olar
is
NCP
Octans
C
a
s
s
i
o
p
e
i
a
B
i
g
D
i
p
p
e
r
Place Polaris here
Place the four stars in the Asterism here
Northern Hemisphere
P
o
lar
is
N
C
P
O
c
tan
s
C
a
s
s
i
o
p
e
i
a
B
i
g
D
i
p
p
e
r
Southern Hemisphere
Fig.g-1
Fig.g-2