EQ6 Latitude

[zumka (Daniel)]

Hi Guys,

Can I please confirm to set latitude on EQ6PRO I need to subtract it from 90 meaning if my latitude 37.5 (90 - 37.5 = 52.5) therefore I need to set the dial on the mount to 52.5.

Thanks

[Starbug (Vince)]

No, just checked mine and the manual. If you're at say 32 degrees, you set it to 32 degrees.

[zumka (Daniel)]

Originally Posted by Starbug

No, just checked mine and the manual. If you're at say 32 degrees, you set it to 32 degrees.

Now I'm confused. What about this post:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...5&postcount=47

He set his latitude to 52 (90 -38)

[Matty P (Matt)]

Hi Daniel, Vince is correct. Whatever your latitude is, that is what you set on your mount. So for you it will be 37.5 degrees.

[zumka (Daniel)]

Thanks guys,

Too much information can be sometimes confusing

[Dennis]

Hi Daniel

What you are trying to do, is to align your RA axis on the South Celestial Pole, the point around which the stars appear to revolve. The altitude of the SCP above your Horizon is the same as your Latitude, so you dial in your Latitude and in theory, this should get your RA axis pointing at the SCP, thus making it parallel to the axis of the Earth’s rotation.

However, I have read that some of the scales on certain EQ mounts are not accurate and may be as much as 4 to 5 degrees off! My Vixen GPDX scale, although small, does seem to be accurate so when I have the 4 stars of Octans lined up in the illuminated reticule of the Vixen Polar Alignment Scope, the scale does read 27.5 degrees, for Brisbane.

Cheers

Dennis

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

hehehe you said the magical accuracy word there mate "Vixen" In this world 80% of the time you get what you pay for

[zumka (Daniel)]

From what I have read EQ6PRO scale should be reasonably accurate.

[garin (Garin)]

Daniel, assuming you asking this question in refernce to polar aligning, if you are in the general area of the SCP you should see the attached arrangement of stars. The shepards crook is faily obvious in a 9x50 finderscope even in light polluted skies, and is easier each time you find it.

The SCP on the chart will be fixed but the Shepard's crook will rotate around the SCP. I use my 9x50 finderscope to centre the SCP as per the chart and this is fine for setting my eq6 for visual.

BTW you do need to check the finderscope is aligned with the main scope first and the EQ6 tripod is level.

Clear Skies
Garin

[AlexN]

the scale on my EQ6 was 4.6 degrees out (measured with a digital inclineometer..) Thats a LONG way to be out... even for visual use...

Set it at the latitude of your location... check your polar scope is lined up correctly (as outlined in the EQ6 manual) then find sigma octans in the polar scope if you can (from where i am, sigma octans is completely invisible due to light pollution) If you can find it at your location, simply line the reticule up with octans and you'll be close enough for very enjoyable viewing, and accurate go to's !

Alex.