Locating the SCP

[Iain]

My LX90 has a wedge (meade) fitted. My tripod is perfectly balanced using spirit levels and the LX90 looks like it is pointed due South, yet I just cannot find the SCP.

I am in the Southern Hemisphere (NZ).

Any clues from the group that might aid me to locate the SCP ?

[Kunama]

Are you pointing 'True' South or Magnetic South?
Is you wedge set correctly to your latitude?
Can you seen Octans from where you are?

http://astronomer.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Find-SCP.jpg

[astronobob]

Google is your freind - should hlep somewhat

http://jan.eaglecreekobservatory.org/polar.html
(http://jan.eaglecreekobservatory.org/polar.html)

[Amaranthus]

Look for the emptiest part of the southern sky, and that's it! ;)

Draw a line between Achernar and half way between Mimosa and Hadar, and it's about at the mid-point of those two reference markers.

After that, you should be in approximately the right position, and can get closer via various methods, such as Alignmaster or Drift Alignment.

[astronobob]

Where about are you in Whangarei, New Zealand - Ive just checked in Google Maps, looks reasonably Built Up in the township areas - are you in the town suburbs or out of town, maybe Light pollution is killing off the South Pole Stars, they are not very bright and need modest dark skies to see them in a finder or pole scope ? ?
Just a thought !

[Eden]

I've always used this method and assuming you can see the Southern Cross and Alpha/Beta Centauri it's pretty reliable.

http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/finding-south.png

Hope this helps!

[Hans Tucker]

There is some very good information on IIS.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-466-0-0-1-0.html

[MattT]

I use Trevor Hands lump of wood and compass on the ground method.
This computer will not cut and paste but it is in the project section 3rd post down….truly excellent at getting in the area within 1º or close enough.
Worked well enough to do a 2 star alignment with an NEQ6.
Matt

[Renato1]

In your finderscope, you should be able to see the trapezium made up of beta, v, delta and sigma Octans seen in this map (after doing mental rotations), assuming everything is aligned correctly and you have the telescope set at 90 degrees declination. The SCP is next to Sigma Octans as in the map.
http://www.constellation-guide.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Octans-constellation-map.gif
As you rotate your telescope in RA, the SCP point doesn't move.
Regards,
Renato

[garin]

I get my gem pointed roughly to the south celestial pole by compass and stick and then use a digital angle meter to set my latitude. I can then align good enough for visual work using my 9x50 finder scope and the attached diagram, the shepards crook is fairly easy to see and once you have seen it it's easier on return visits.

[ZeroID]

True North is easier to get using a Pumbbob and solar noon. No deviation calculations required and not affected by local magnetic anomalies. After that use an inclinometer app on your phone or tablet or make another protractor\plumbbob combination.

[julianh72]

Here's how I do it:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=1066449&postcount=19

Works for me!

[Nico13]

Are you doing any photography with the scope?
Once you have set the latitude angle with an inclinometer and yes Solar North is a good way of getting your North South line.
If you can fit a colour camera then set up and take a 30 or 60 second shot at a high ISO say 3200 and then study the image and look for the three central stars that you see in the charts previously posted, one is quite bright and red.
If you can see those in the image then you're not far off and you can make your adjustments from there.

Good luck with it.

I've added a screen shot from TheSky6 and this is roughly what you should see if aligned with an 8" SCT.
The red star and the two brighter stars below are what to look for in the picture, take a wide field if you can, and the red star and the two faint ones down to the left point right at the pole. You can also see them through an eye piece given that you don't have a lot of light polution, you won't see all the faint ones but the three main stars are quite visible.

[kosh]

Hi Iain,

Every one has a preferred way to find the SCP, whatever works is the main thing.
Personally, I have used the Solar noon method to set up my imaging area.
If you haven't checked it out already, go to a site such as this: http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc/ and put in your co-ords etc...
Drive a stick into the ground making it straight and level. At the exact time of "your" solar noon, the sun points to the celestial pole with a shadow on the ground. Couldn't be simpler really.

[Renato1]

Surely, just looking up at the sky, and directly finding Sigma Octans and the SCP is simpler. With a decent star atlas it really isn't too hard to locate Octans with binoculars.
Regards,
Renato