Quote:
Originally Posted by icytailmark
hi guys im in the process of setting up a perm pier. I have dug 1mx1m and 800 deep hole. I am gunna fill it in with concrete to make a pad and put my pier in concrete. My question is to work out true south do i need to point the telescope head toward 12.5 degree east of south like i normally do? I have heard you can also use solar noon line method. Which is the most accurate?
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Solar noon is the simplest. Any magnetic material within several metres of the pier location will throw a compass out. There should be enough adjustment in the mount head that you only need to get the mounting plate on the pier within a couple of degrees of true south.
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc/ will let you work out the time of solar noon. Today in Castle Hill it is at 12:42 AEDT.
Or
http://www.spot-on-sundials.co.uk/calculator.html to generate a spreadsheet for the whole year.