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Subject: Polar alignment errors -Reply
From: Ralph Pass
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Tue Sep 05 06:28:24 1995

Refraction variations will affect the results but not to the degree (no pun) you are seeing. A more likely source is using a star that is close to Polaris' RA or its RA + 12hrs. This can introduce a large error. I would suggest manually doing the alignment and avoid the stars with large errors in their positions. A list if available from the FTP site or off of the WEB page.

After you have a 'good' alignment, slew the scome to AZ = 0 and DEC = 0. Note the hour angle position on the analog scale on the base and the reading on the Declination dial (the analog). This is where you should set your scope the next power up.

Ralph Pass rppass@tasc.com