totally confused

[spacebloke]

Hi folks,

Ive just got my new eq5 delivered and I've put it altogether and I'm totally confused about setting circles.

I've got the syscan goto version so do I really need them?

Also the RA dial sticks and slips as I'm rotating the axis, is this normal?

Ok now for the stupid question (remember I'm a complete newbie to eq mounts so don't laugh!), do I need to lock up the DEC and RA axis before switching it on? I've just got an image of me locking it up and trying to test the motors and it chugs to a stop and then explodes!

Cheers

[Black Knight]

The Dec and RA clutches do need to be locked before swtitching it on. Can't help with setting circles though, although I think Astrobaby goes into it on her site:

Astro-Baby Astronomy Website

I think her site is tailord for the HEQ5, although you could extrapolate most of the info reasonably easily for the EQ5.

[Helen]

Don't worry about the setting circles if you've got the goto version - you don't need them.

Helen

[spacebloke]

Thanks Helen, That sound great! So I can just find polaris in the eyepiece and then do the 2 or 3 star alignment?

[Black Knight]

What you will find useful is Astrobaby's tips on polar alignment.