That would be right

[Davros]

First clear night in ages and do you think i can find either one of my compasses for setup :mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2:

[mithrandir]

I don't bother with a compass. I know where south is from my normal setup location - over the gable end of the garage.

If you've got anything with goto, point the RA axis more or less south and goto something. Rotate the mount rather than use the handpiece to align it.

Repeat with objects in various directions until you are close enough to do your visual observing or drift align for photography.

That's roughly what I do away from home, but my mount does have a polar align function which simplifies it once I'm in the ball park.

Now I've got that pretty much down I just wish I could get the knack of CCD photography. The DSLR works OK.

[Davros]

Its all good, was just frustrating. I can bumble my way to an alignment using exactly the method you said. I had a quick play tonight and was toying with a first DSLR crack at M42 however the clouds started rolling in while going for a three star alignment. Mount was grinding away a bit on a certain angle but i think that may be a balance issue. Investigations to continue tomorrow night, weather pending. Hope the clouds stayed away from 10 chain for the guys out there.