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Once you have it inserted you will have to centre it. The easiest way to do this is to lower the mount head in
azimuth and sight on a distant object in daylight. This may involve taking out the latitude t-screw, shortening one
leg, or both to get the head down low enough. After you have done this unlock the R.A. clutch again and rotate
the mount back and forth in R.A. while keeping your target in view. The idea is to gently tweak the three alignment
screws, while rotating the mount, until the target remains at the centre of rotation. This shouldn't take long and
after that keep the plastic cap on to protect it from getting bumped off alignment. Set the azimuth of the mount
back to the correct latitude.
Using the polarscope:
1)
Now about the numbers "E 20 10 0 10 20 W". First, you need to
find your present Longitude. You can do this by consulting a map,
chart, GPS, etc. The idea is to find how far east or west your
viewing site is from the reference meridian for your time zone. For
example, the Longitude of Vancouver, BC is 123° and the
reference meridian for the Pacific Time Zone is 120°, so the
setting will be 3° W. The lines on the dial are 5° apart so rotate the
silver dial until the indicator on the black collar points between the
zero and 5° line (Fig.l). If you observe from a significantly different
longitude, this setting will have to be changed.
2)
At your viewing site, set the mount (without weights and scope) facing North. Adjust it to a convenient height
for viewing and carefully level it. Unlock the Dec clutch and rotate to Dec 0°, then lock the Dec clutch. Remove
the cap from the bottom of the RA axis shaft and the plug from the top.
3)
Set the 24-hour clock dial so that the hour '0' aligns with the top indicator, and lock it in place with the
setscrew. Remember this dial is a clock face running from 0-23 hours. Northern hemisphere users use the top
row of numbers and all times are in Standard Time. Do not use Daylight Saving Time for the following setting.
Unlock the R.A. clutch, and rotate the mount in R.A. until the current date on the silver calendar dial, is aligned
4)
with the current time using the black 24-hour clock dial (Standard Time), then lock the R.A. clutch.
5)
Using only the latitude adjustment t-screws for up and down, and the azimuth adjustment of f-set screws on the
north side of your mount for left-right, centre Polaris in the little offset circle. You may have to shine your red
flashlight at an angle across the front to illuminate the crosshair or better yet have a friend hold the light while
you do the adjustments.
Lastly, loosen the top setscrew, unlock the R.A. clutch, put on the counterweights and then the scope and
6)
finally adjust the balance position of the counterweight.
16
Fig.l
E 20 10
0
10 20 W
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