Orion STARMAX 9826 - Manual (Page 7)

To find Polaris in the sky, look north and locate the pattern of
the Big Dipper (Figure 7). The two stars at the end of the
“bowl” of the Big Dipper point right to Polaris.
Observers in the Southern Hemisphere aren’t so fortunate to
have a bright star so near the south celestial pole (SCP). The
star Sigma Octantis lies about 1° from the SCP, but it is barely
visible with the naked eye (magnitude 5.5).
For general visual observation, an approximate polar align-
ment is sufficient.
1. Level the equatorial mount by adjusting the length of the
three tripod legs.
2. There are two altitude adjusting T-bolts (see Figure 6); loos-
en one bolt while tightening the other. By doing this you will
adjust the latitude of the mount. Continue adjusting the mount
until the pointer on the latitude scale is set at the latitude of
your observing site. If you don’t know your latitude, consult a
geographical atlas to find it. For example, if your latitude is 35°
North, set the pointer to 35. The latitude setting should not
have to be adjusted again unless you move to a different view-
ing location some distance away.
3. Loosen the Dec. lock lever and rotate the telescope optical
tube until it is parallel with the R.A. axis, as it is in Figure 1.
The pointer on the Dec. setting circle should read 90°.
Retighten the Dec. lock lever.
4. Move the tripod so the telescope tube (and R.A. axis) points
roughly at Polaris. If you cannot see Polaris directly from your
observing site, consult a compass and rotate the tripod so the
telescope points north. There is a label bearing a large “N” at
the base of the equatorial mount (Figure 8). It should be fac-
ing north.
The equatorial mount is now polar aligned for casual observ-
ing. More precise polar alignment is recommended for
astrophotography.
From this point on in your observing session, you should not
make any further adjustments in the azimuth or the latitude of
the mount, nor should you move the tripod. Doing so will undo
the polar alignment. The telescope should be moved only
about its R.A. and Dec. axes.
Figure 7. To find Polaris in the night sky, look north and find the
Big Dipper. Extend an imaginary line from the two "Pointer Stars" in
the bowl of the Big Dipper. Go about five times the distance
between those stars and you'll reach Polaris, which lies within 1° of
the north celestial pole (NCP).
7
Big Dipper
(in Ursa Major)
Little Dipper
(in Ursa Minor)
N.C.P.
Pointer
Stars
Polaris
Declination setting circle
Front opening in R.A. axis
Azimuth
fine adjustment
knobs
Declination
locking lever
Right ascension
locking lever
Right ascension
setting circle
Polar axis finder scope
Latitude scale
Latitude adjusting
T-bolts
DEC
lina
Tion
axis
Righ
T as
CE
nsion axis
Figure 6. The
equatorial mount of the
StarMax 127mm EQ
Cassiopeia