How Does a Polar Scope 'See' Past the Counterbalance Rod

[nheather]

I understand how a Polar Scope works, but when I look through the hole that the Polar Scope fits into the view is obscured by the rod which holds the counter balance weights.

You can see either side of the rod but the centre is blocked.

So how does a Polar Scope manage to 'see through' the rod?

Cheers,

Nigel

[Digz]

You need to extend the rod and put the counterweights on.

You should polar align with a fully loaded / balanced mount to avoid knocking it after.

[brantuk]

Yup - extend the rod - and if the view is still blocked just turn the declination axis through 180 degrees until you can see through the hole in the rod via the polar scope. Hth

[JamesF]

I take the opposite view. I polar align without the OTA in place. Then mount the OTA and do a final check. The load of the OTA is one of the causes of bent alt bolts.

James

[nheather]

You need to extend the rod and put the counterweights on.

Thanks, I hadn't spotted that. Because there is a nut at the top near the tube mount it looked like the counterbalance rod went all the way through.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Digz]

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I take the opposite view. I polar align without the OTA in place. Then mount the OTA and do a final check. The load of the OTA is one of the causes of bent alt bolts.

James

Very true, if you do this then you definitely need to re-check you PA after loading the mount. I, on the other hand, take great care in adjusting my alt bolts

[rwilkey]

You are polar-aligning the mount, not the telescope, so just turn the telescope away in RA until the rod is no longer in the way. Or do the process before you mount the telescope as suggested by Lee above.