Ken's Rapid Polar Alignment with a Polar Alignment Scope
There are just two steps:
1. Imagine Kochab's clock position relative to Polaris.
2. Using the Alt/Az adjustments on the mount, put Polaris at the equivalent position within the polar alignment scope.
This only takes about 2 to 5 minutes.
You don't need to use the current date or time.
Once you get good at it, you can get close to a 5-minute drift accuracy.
This works on the principles that:
1. Kochab is on the opposite side of the NCP from Polaris, and
2. A refracting telescope rotates the sky image by 180 degrees.
Use the images below as a guide. Keep in mind that Ursa Minor may be in a different position depending on the time of year, but following these steps will work regardless. If you want even better accuracy, try using the star 5 Umi (just west of Kochab). It's R.A. is 14h28m, almost exactly 12 hours (180 degrees) from Polaris!
Return to the Quick Polar Alignment Guide
1. Imagine Kochab's clock position relative to Polaris.
2. Using the Alt/Az adjustments on the mount, put Polaris at the equivalent position within the polar alignment scope.
This only takes about 2 to 5 minutes.
You don't need to use the current date or time.
Once you get good at it, you can get close to a 5-minute drift accuracy.
This works on the principles that:
1. Kochab is on the opposite side of the NCP from Polaris, and
2. A refracting telescope rotates the sky image by 180 degrees.
Use the images below as a guide. Keep in mind that Ursa Minor may be in a different position depending on the time of year, but following these steps will work regardless. If you want even better accuracy, try using the star 5 Umi (just west of Kochab). It's R.A. is 14h28m, almost exactly 12 hours (180 degrees) from Polaris!
Locate the North Star and Kochab in Ursa Minor
Polaris is at R.A. 2h32m, Dec. 89.25
Kochab's R.A. is 14h50m
Imagine Kochab's clock position relative to Polaris
Put Polaris at the equivalent position on the
polar alignment scope's reticle circle.
©2003, Ken Harker
Star Charts created with Distant Suns 4, ©1998 by Mike Smithwick
Star Charts created with Distant Suns 4, ©1998 by Mike Smithwick