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Subject: POLAR Alignment Major Trouble
From: Phillip Pudney
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Fri Jan 19 02:17:44 1996

Greetings!

I live in the Southern Hemisphere so Polar Alignment is quite difficult. I
seem to be able to align the 'scope with the SCP OK, but when I want to set
it up to use with the LX200's keypad I begin to run into troubles...

I am asked to lign up the 'scope with Sigma Octans. Since I don't know
exactly where Sigma Oct. is I point the tube in about the right direction
and hit ENTER.

But then I am asked to lign up a star close to the Eastern horizon, and last
time I had the 'scope out it asked for Regulus - but Regulus in behing
trees, and any other time I have tried to lign up it askes for a Star in
around the same point on the horizon.

So I estimate where that star is, and hit ENTER. Obviously I still cant use
the LX200 keypad as it will not be accurate.

So I point the 'scope to another star/Deep Sky Obj. of my choice and find
the Object in the Database and press and hold ENTER - And I am told the
object has been matched - but the 'scope is still not accurate so I cant use
HP, etc.

So... Is there a way of ligning up my Meade in POLAR mode if the Star I am
told to lign the telescope up with is below the trees... or will I have to
resort to star hopping or removing the wedge completely and TELLING the
telescope which stars I want to use as alignment stars?

Regards,
Phillip - Manager
Woodlands Observatory

E-mail: pudney@iaccess.com.au

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