Balance and drift alignment

[E_ri_k (Erik)]

Hi. I have a HEQ 5 mount with a 1200mm x 254mm reflector.

My question is regarding the balancing of the scope. I balanced the scope as per the instruction manual (RA with latitude scale at 30, and DEC with latitude scale at 70). Now I am drift aligning the scope as I think this will be easier than trying to use the polar scope and finding Octans. After playing with the altitude adjustment to align the East West, I thought maybe the scope will be out of balance now because I have changed the altitude setting from what it was when balancing (if that makes sense?)

So...Should I fully drift align my scope in both directions...then balance it?

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Hi Erik

Go here:http://www.andysshotglass.com/BalancingScope.html to see an online tutorial on how to balance your scope

From what I've read of your writing I think you're not too sure how to do so and this tutorial will help heaps

Also you can find on this site a tute on how to polar align a scope to the celestial pole - as in our case here in Oz it's the SCP (south celestial pole)

HTH
Cheers
Bill