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Old 14-10-2012, 11:13 AM
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mithrandir (Andrew)
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Glenhaven
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Quote:
Originally Posted by icytailmark View Post
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?
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.

Last edited by mithrandir; 14-10-2012 at 11:23 AM.
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