Protractor for setting latitude.

[acropolite]

Some heads up, after using the wooden alignment thingo at Astrofest (I beileve made by Bob Grimes) I realised how something preset to latitude will give a good starting position for polar alignment.

I happened to get a mail out from Timbecon showing some nice vernier protractors claimed to be very accurate and having won awards
.

Attached is a pic of the little jigger, they're compact enough to shove in the eyepiece case (Arms 85 x 150mm) and with vernier capability should prove to be very accurate.

Cost was just $9.50 plus postage (around $16 all up). If you're a woodworking head then they also have some interesting stuff at very good prices.

http://www.timbecon.com.au/details/plastic-protractor-8285.aspx

[h0ughy]

didnt you like my talking clinometer app on the ipod?

[acropolite]

Found one tonight free, not sure if it talks though. Thanks for reminding me.:)

[Wavytone]

Phil, nice idea but it needs a bubble level too... The clinometer app is even better IMHO...

[2stroke]

lol beats my piece of string with an bolt teid to the end and protractor, since i always level my mount and PA with alingmaster and only travel 50km north or south its never being an issue. If someone started selling PA kits with a stick and compass to hook onto tripods, plus this protractor and a booklet with true south relevant to your magnetic they would make a mint. They should sell something like this at bintel, hell there's a killer market idea a PA kit for EQ mount users.

[Dennis]

Here’s my simple DIY solution that shouldn’t take too long to build from readily available materials.:)

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=14036

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=187863&postcount=29

Cheers

Dennis

[Astro_Bot]

I use a digital inclinometer - a cheap one off eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Digital-Level-Inclinometer-Angle-Finder-4-x-90-0-360-Quadrants-Spirit-Level-/151130343252) - but it works very well. I also use it to level the tripod (after southerly alignment). It's quite accurate - after accurately polar aligning, I've re-checked elevation with the inclinometer, and it still says 27.5 degrees, so it's within +/- 0.1 degrees, which is exactly what is says in the tin.

As for a compass, I've only needed a simpler approach (see photo). I align the vertical mark with the tripod spigot then rotate the tripod to align the horizontal mark with the compass needle (the difference between the marks being the difference between magnetic and true South, of course). Despite concerns that the compass might be inaccurate that close to the tripod, I've had no such problems.

By the way, the plastic cap is a perfect fit ... IIRC, it's off a Glen 20 can ... and the compass is dirt cheap like this one (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/380650478071?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX: IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649) and simply glued on, albeit very carefully.

Using this simple approach, the Sigma Octans asterism is well within the polar scope field of view. I barely have to touch the elevation bolts, and won't bother if I only want a "quick and dirty". Azimuth is within a couple of degrees and should take a couple of minutes to adjust, assuming you can see Octans well enough. Of course, there are some nights when seeing Octans at all (in an EQ6 polar scope) is a pain in the &#$*, no matter how accurate the initial setup. :sadeyes:

And another thing ... as most people probably know by now, the EQ6 elevation scale is way off!

Hopefully this helps someone.