Have a read of this......
https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/...d.php?t=196957
In particular Martin's post about solar noon and a stick in the dirt.
I did this, it takes no time to set up and gives you an exact direction to point your tripod. I then hung a plumb bob from the tripod to get it exactly over the line and put the front tripod leg in the other end of the line and marked the three point on my concrete where the lags are. I put my tripod here and every time l am very very close to PA. I too cannot see/recognise Octans.
You will need to do more for photography to work out
I bought a goto mount, problem solved.