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RA and the Meridian
To polar align you point the tube towards North, with the counter-weight shaft horizontal, pointed East. Then you raise the tube and point it towards the Meridian. Select the closest star, it varies, dependent on the season. With an illuminated recticle turn the eyepiece so that the star stays within one line of the crosshairs. Then, if the star drifts up-wards, move the tube a bit towards East. If the star drifts downwards, move the tube West-ward.
To really get to understand what happens. turn the tube a fair bit until the star drifts in the opposite direction.
Ken
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