13
Fig.h-4
Fig.h-5
Rotate the RA axis so the Longitude Index Marker (See
Figure h-4) lines up with your Date Scale Indicator. Lock the
RA axis.
Turn the Date/Longitude scale so that your calculated "Zero"
point lines up with the Longitude Index Marker.
Unlock the RA axis and rotate the mount so the Date Scale
Indicator is pointing at the current date. Lock the RA axis.
Loosen and move the RA Setting Circle to show the current
time. Use the upper portion of the scale for the Northern
Hemisphere and the bottom for the Southern hemisphere.
Tighten the Setting Circle.
Unlock the RA axis and rotate the mount until RA setting circle
indicator points at Zero. The reticule is now in the proper
orientation.
Use the altitude and azimuth adjusters to place Polaris into
the small circle on the perimeter of the bigger circle in the
polar scope reticule.
1.
2
3
4
5
6
Procedure for Precise Polar Alignment of the HEQ5/EQ6 Mount.
Preliminary Step: Determining the Zero Point on the Longitude Scale
The alignment procedure requires that you set the Longitude scale to "Zero". Depending on where you
live, "Zero" can be anyplace between the E and the W on longitude scale, so first you need to determine
where zero is for your location. Your Zero point is equal to the difference between your actual longitude
and the longitude of the central meridian of your time zone. To calculate the longitude of your central
meridian, multiply your time zone offset from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) by 15.
For example, in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (Eastern Time) the time zone offset is -5 hours. Ignore the
sign and simply multiply 5 x 15 = 75. The longitude of the central meridian for the Eastern Time Zone is
75 degrees west. The actual longitude at the viewing location in Waterloo is 80 degrees 30 minutes
HEQ5
EQ6
4
20
1
0
E
W
20
20
10
10
0
12
0
23
23
1
2
1
22
2
21
3
4
The polar alignment is complete. This procedure should get you
within a couple of minutes of true north.
Precise Polar Alignment for the Southern Hemisphere:
There is a 4-star pattern in the polar scope, which resembles the
bucket of the big Dipper. In the Southern Hemisphere, there is an
Asterism in Octans which can be used for Polar Alignment. This
procedure can be somewhat difficult in the city because all four
of the stars in the Asterism are fainter than Magnitude 5.
Rotate the telescope in RA axis and/or use the altitude and
azimuth adjusters to place the four stars in the Asterism in the
four circles (Fig. h-5).
Place the four stars
in the Asterism here
Pol
aris
NCP
Oct
ans
C
a
s
s
i
o
p
e
i
a
B
i
g
D
i
p
p
e
r
West. Ignore the 30 minutes and just use 80 in the equation.
Now it's simple, 80-75=5. Since 80 is greater than 75 the result
is positive 5. That means Waterloo, Ontario is west of its
Central Meridian. In this case, the zero point is at the "5" mark
on the W side of the scale. If the location was east of its central
meridian the equation would yield a negative value. In that case
the E side of the scale should be used.
Precise Polar Alignment for the Northern Hemisphere:
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