South Celestial Pole

[glenc]

Most people know that you can find the South Celestial Pole (SCP) with the naked eye using the Southern Cross.
Another way is to go half way from Achernar to beta Centauri.
If you want to be more accurate take the midpoint between alpha Hydri and beta Centauri.
The star map below is from SkyMapPro.
Alpha Hydri is to the lower right of Achernar.

[Rigel003]

That's useful for a good eyeball approximation. It's actually very close. Thanks Glen.

[Nikolas]

Polar Align (http://photographingspace.com/polar-align-phd2/)

[glenc]

I sometimes use a finderscope or binoculars to go from 47 Tuc (NGC 104) to beta Hyi then to gamma 1,2,3 Oct then to sigma Oct and finally to BQ Oct.
The maps below are from SkyMapPro.
BQ Oct is the orange star on the right of Oct

[Rigel003]

I made up a visual guide for myself of the same pathway from beta Hydri. It's easy in binoculars, and I can trace the pathway with certainty in the polar scope of my Ioptron SkyTracker, even under suburban skies. Attached is a PDF copy in case it's useful to anyone.

[glenc]

I like that Graeme

[Wavytone]

Reminds me of Duck Dodgers astro navigation skills, eager young space cadet !

[glenc]

Thanks Nick Loveday