Tripod Height??

[krobbo]

Hi again everybody! 

A question that has perplexed me for a long time, tripod height!

Does tripod height affect latitude adjustment? I know having a tripod as low as possible is best for stability & vibration resistance, but does it affect polar alignment & latitude adjustment. I ask as I'm trying to achieve the best solution for Polar alignment & before I look at building a permanent pier.  Also comfortable viewing position helps my poor back! Is this more critical for Astrophotography rather than visual?

Ideas??

[Stu]

No it doesn't affect the adjustment at all, you could have your tripod at any height and the latitude adjustment would be the same.

I find a pier extension very handy to get extra height for viewing comfort and to avoid tripod clashes for refractors in particular.

[Alien 13]

For AP I do wish that I could get a tripod 6 inches off the ground but as said it makes no difference to the alignment angle.

Alan

[iapa]

11 hours ago, Alien 13 said:

For AP I do wish that I could get a tripod 6 inches off the ground but as said it makes no difference to the alignment angle.

Alan

I'd settle for one that is 60% of the length of the OTA  Just in case of ground strikes. 

[Louis D]

I use a Manfrotto 058B tripod with my DSV-1 mount for visual usage.  I crank the center column up or down as needed to bring the eyepiece to a comfortable viewing height while seated.  Once I tighten down the center column clamp, it is nearly as steady as at its fully retracted position.  As I crank it up or down, the object stays more or less where I left it in the eyepiece.  This variable height solution helps preserve my old back and neck.  I like to think of it as a variable height extension.

I keep the legs fully retracted and splayed wide for stability and for ease of getting between them with a stool.  It also has a built in level, so I adjust the splay of each leg until it's level.  Adding anti-vibration pads under each foot completes my tripod/mount setup.

[krobbo]

Thanks for the replies I can lower it down some. My God the weather is atrocious at the mo!

[Stu]

36 minutes ago, krobbo said:

Thanks for the replies I can lower it down some. My God the weather is atrocious at the mo!

Not half! It's clear here tonight but blowing a gale still. At least it has stopped raining though!