EQ6 mount azimuth adjustment question

[rthorntn (Richard)]

Hi

I hope you all can help.

The two adjustment knobs, where is the right position for azimuth, above the leg I guess but how would I get this accurate, or should I normally not touch this?

Thanks.

Richard

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

These are adjusted when you align with South as you align the mount in both azimuth (South/North_ and altitude-your latitude)
If you are in the Southern hemisphere point the upright pin on the mount base south, then align the counter weight bar and the scopes facing that way also.
Easy way to find true south for your position-
google solar noon claculator (NOAA website) to find when it is exactly solar noon at your lat and long.
Then put a plumb bob line where you will place tripod- the shadow at exactly solar noon will be your true south. Works a treat. Then you just have to find the exact lat.
Caution- the Azi knobs on EQ's are notoriously easy to bend/break. Grease them or replace with better knobs as soon as you can.
The peg can be in two spots I recall, above the leg is ok so you can align that leg with your mark and know the peg is the same.
Hope this helps
Graz

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

My EQ6 has not been used much since I bought it over 18 months ago, but the past few nights I have had the opportunity to give it a run.
I have found that a rough polar alignment is sufficient. By that I mean the third leg of the pier points roughly south, the latitude set by the scale and no more! I know where the SCP is in the sky and just sight along the short polar axis housing to confirm.

I used the first three alignment stars suggested, Arcturus, Miaplacidus & Antares. Rough centred in a 80x eyepiece.

Result? - terrific GoTo shooting to all parts of the sky with all objects in a FOV of less than .7 degree. This mount really does not need to be accurately aligned for casual viewing. Love it the way this thing moves about the sky!

[Sarge (Rod)]

Richard,
The azimuth peg should be above the leg you point south. This is soley for balance issues, as that is where the counter balance will be when scope is parked. So setting up becomes more safer. It is easliy interchangable if it is not already over a leg, as most of the tripods are set up for northern hemisphere, not southerners.
Ensure your tripod is level first (small carpenters level is ideal), and the south leg is pointing true south. Graham's method is very acurate and easy (as long as the sun it out)
The altitude scale on the mount is not that acurate, so an inclinmeter or protractor is worth purchasing.
For more acuracy, programs like Alignmaster are very helpful.

All this from a bloke who still stuggles to get his alignment spot on.

Clear skies

Rod

[silv (Annette)]

I have found that a rough polar alignment is sufficient. By that I mean the third leg of the pier points roughly south, the latitude set by the scale and no more! I know where the SCP is in the sky and just sight along the short polar axis housing to confirm.

I used the first three alignment stars suggested, Arcturus, Miaplacidus & Antares. Rough centred in a 80x eyepiece.

MAN, that makes me jealous! Took me the clear nights of 5 weeks (and a replacement knob from Allan Gould - eternal thanks! ) to get it all working okay ....

Enjoy !