Setting North

[M4lcs67]

In a few weeks we are having our back garden landscaped and in it I am having a dedicated paved telescope pad put in where I will be able to set up. Currently I have to set-up on the lawn which is on a slope and when I have been out for a few nights the ground starts to get chewed up and muddy. The new spot will be clean and level.

Therefore I was wanting to find out how to find due north, so once I have it I will be able to make some permanent marks on the ground and will be able to set-up in the same spot every time. I read recently that someone else had done this, but I cannot seem to find it.

Thanks alot

[Digz]

How about a compass?

[cosmojaydee]

Place a stick in the ground , wait for the sun to come out , when midday arrives the shadow of the stick will be pointing true north, if I am wrong I am sure I will be corrected

[M4lcs67]

Ha,ha Digz,

Now why didn't I think of that;-) No. There are certain variations in the earths magnetic field if i'm not mistaken, so you cannot get it by using a compass alone. Or maybe I am talking rubbish?????

[Digz]

Ha,ha Digz,

Now why didn't I think of that;-) No. There are certain variations in the earths magnetic field if i'm not mistaken, so you cannot get it by using a compass alone. Or maybe I am talking rubbish?????

You are correct and a decent compass will have a rotating bezel which will allow you to adjust from magnetic north to true north

the stick and sun method may be more accurate. I think the best way is to mark the shadow at two times either side of noon and bisect the markings. I seem to recall there being some discrepancy between noon and solar noon, which this helps get over.

[Digz]

This might shed some light (pardon the pun) on solar noon and aligning north:

[cfpendock]

If you use the stick and sun method, make sure you are using the correct time, i.e. UTC, not British summer time, and possibly adjusted for your longitude. I would like to use this method myself, but unfortunately it isn't possible because we don't see the sun any more.

chris

[M4lcs67]

Thanks alot fellas. Still a few weeks to go, but I think it will be a handy thing to have the marks permanently drawn out, so it will help when setting up.

[Digz]

It certainly will Malc. Let us know how you get on.

[cantab]

Go out at night and use Polaris?

[PDW]

Properly align your scope to the NCP and use that position.

[Guy Wells]

My compass lives in the tripod tray.