Polar align EQ Mount without Polaris.

Hi All,

Was out last night getting used to a new mount I have (CG5 GT). I couldn't see Polaris, but most of the sky apart from that was clear. Is there any way to get reasonable alignment without using Polaris. I found a few articles on the web, but all extreamly complicated and time consuming?

Cheers,
Gary.

You can get an approximation that's good enough for observing or wide-angle photography by the following method:-

1) Ensure mount is on level surface

2) Set latitude on mount - from map or GPS.

3) Determine North with compass applying correction for True North - for Ireland True North is approx 6deg East of Magnetic North.

Getting closer than that is indeed complicated and time consuming.

Good luck!

Paul.

Cheers, Ill give it a try. Thought you'd have to have it bang-on to work the goto.

Cheers,
Gary