Meade 2045 - Page 8

position as in Fig. 2 (careful eye alignment to make the main tube parallel to the fork arms is sufficient),
perform these two operations:
a. Turn the entire telescope on its tripod until the telescope tube is pointing due North.
b. Lengthen or shorten the adjustable tripod leg (6), Fig. 1, until the angle it makes with the horizontal
is equal to your latitude. (Most road maps show latitude). Use a protractor for this operation: hold the
protractor up to the tripod leg and adjust the leg length until the leg angle to the horizontal equals your
latitude.
In Fig. 2, note that the telescope is pointing North and the adjustable tripod leg has been set to make the
correct latitude angle with the horizontal as described in steps (a) and (b). The adjustable leg is locked to
the correct length by tightening the small thumbscrew located at the lower end of the leg.
The above procedure is approximate, but is more than adequate for visual observations through the
telescope and for many astrophotographic applications.
If the polar alignment procedure has been properly performed, then the North Star (Polaris) will be visible
in the field of view of the viewfinder, with the telescope again oriented as shown in Fig. 2. In summary, the
polar axis is indicated by the long arrow lined up with the adjustable tripod leg. This axis should (a) point
North; (b> make an angle with the tabletop (horizontal) equal to your latitude. To accomplish (b), lengthen
or shorten the adjustable tripod leg
Figure 2: Lining Up With The Pole
With the telescope thus aligned to the Pole, the position of the tripod remains fixed during all subsequent
observations through the telescope. Loosen the R.A. and Dec. locks each time you wish to move the
telescope manually to locate a new object, then re-tighten these locks once the object is in the telescopic
field of view. When the electronic pulse motor drive is plugged in, the telescope automatically tracks
astronomical objects each time you re-tighten the R.A. lock.
As a separate procedure, during your first use of the telescope, you should check the calibration of the
Declination setting circles (see (3), Fig. 1), located at the top of the two fork arms. With Polaris in the field
of the viewfinder or in the field of the main telescope if properly polar aligned, loosen slightly the knurled
central hubs of both Declination setting circles. Now turn each circle until each reads 89.2‘, the
Declination of Polaris, and then tighten down the knurled knob, avoiding any motion of the circle.
Once the correct length of the adjustable tripod length for proper polar alignment has been
determined,make a small mark on the tripod leg indicating the proper leg extension position. The tripod
leg may now be extended to the correct position without resorting to the entire procedure above. Simply
point the polar axis due North and extend the tripod leg to the pre-marked location. If you move your
observing location significantly, you will need to re-set the tripod to the correct angle. (Approximately 70
miles movement in North-South observing position is equivalent to 1* in latitude change.)