polar alignment, what next?

[Calico Jack]

Carole, by clutches do you simply mean the locking wing nuts that hold the RA & DEC joints in position? I have polar aligned my scope many times but lost the plot a bit when I wanted to look at something behind me... I have watched several clips on Youtube which clearly demonstrate polar alignment, but they all seem to finish when the alignment is done.

How good would it be if there was a clip on there showing someone navigating around the skies using just the RA & DEC hinges/controls...

Hi patbloke, thats where i was going wrong, i would polar align then turn the tube to point at the ground, i didnt realise that by turning the RA all the way round and altering the declination i could point at what i wanted, cant wait for clear skies

[brantuk]

Once polar aligned - don't alter the latitude or azimuth bolts at all and don't move the tripod. Those all stay rooted in place pointing the mount head at the pole star.

There are two locking levers on the front and side of the mont head. These are the clutch locks. You can loosen them to move the scope tube around in two axes (RA and DEC) to point the tube at your object. Once roughly pointed in the desired direction lock the clutch levers back in place to hold the scope steady.

Now you can use the RA and DEC knobs (on the end of the flexible cables) to home in on your object. Do first using the finder, then look in the eyepiece. If the finder and main tube are aligned properly together, then your object will be in view.

(Yes you can loosen the tube rings to rotate the eyepiece and finder around to a comfortable viewing position - stand behind the tube when doing this so it doesn't slip out if too loose)

[Patbloke]

Brantuk, it's clear to me now thank you... can't wait to get out there.

[brantuk]

Great stuff Pat - good luck and let us know how you got on

[carastro]

or lift the entire tripod to my desired object

No, don't lift the tripod or you'll lose your alignment. Only move the telescope, and then you can track "follow the object" using the RA control knob or if you have a motor attached you can track with it in RA.

RA = Right Ascension which is how fast the Earth is rotating (and thus the path that the stars etc appear to cross the sky).

Carole