Polar align

[putrigo]

I feel as if my telescope isn't properly polar aligned... (Celestron CG-3 mount) I have the correct RA, assuming I used the term correctly😓, but I feel like my declination wasn't right. The degree wheel says I'm supposedly spot on(yet again assuming I'm using it correctly) and paranoia arose. There any way I can be sure? 

[ollypenrice]

I think the first thing is not to expect too much from those small mechanical setting circles.  Not many people really use them.

Polaris is, within the accuracy you'll achieve with these circles, at Dec +90.  (It's less than a degree off from that.) If you centre Polaris in your eyepiece you can see what the Declination circle reads. It should be 90.

Don't check your RA circles using Polaris because, during one day, it only describes a tiny circle. Choose a star as close to the celestial equator as possible to do that. A planetarium software such as the free Stellarium will tell you which stars are close.

Olly

[putrigo]

12 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

I think the first thing is not to expect too much from those small mechanical setting circles.  Not many people really use them.

Polaris is, within the accuracy you'll achieve with these circles, at Dec +90.  (It's less than a degree off from that.) If you centre Polaris in your eyepiece you can see what the Declination circle reads. It should be 90.

Don't check your RA circles using Polaris because, during one day, it only describes a tiny circle. Choose a star as close to the celestial equator as possible to do that. A planetarium software such as the free Stellarium will tell you which stars are close.

Olly

I'll keep that in mind, thanks!