Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterEde
No not illuminated. Just clear enough to see the octans etching.
50 next year. Drift aligning  |
Hmmm - that sounds like pretty tough going if the etchings aren't illuminated and you aren't somewhere really dark.
I'm forever switching the flashlight made to go into the illuminating unit on and off - on to see the etchings, and off to see the dratted little trapezium.
Personally, I have never gotten the little pattern into the field of view of the polar scope just by aiming.
Instead, I use the Vernier scale on my Dec axis and the bubble level on my tripod and make sure I have the correct latitude on my telescope.
Basically I line the telescope up roughly in the direction of the SCP. I check my bubble level shows the telescope is level. I set the Declination to that of Alpha Centauri. Then I move the RA axis and the base of the telescope around till I get Alpha Centauri first in the finder, and then in the eyepiece. Assuming your telescope is still level after that exercise, the pattern with be in the field of the polar scope. Then make the final adjustments.
Good luck - you'll need it. I always get a sore neck and knees after that exercise.
Regards,
Renato