Re: [APML]OT-Drift Alignment

["Philippe Chretien" <pchretien@videotron.ca>]

Gary,

As you can read on the Jerry's web site, the best way to find south and north in the eyepiece, regardless of the equipment you use,
is to point your scope on the meridian guiding star and sligthly drift the scope in declinaison towards north. This will make the
star move in the south direction in the eyepiece.

Phil

----- Original Message ----- 
From: StarManGMH@aol.com
To: astro-photo@seds.org
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 1:31 PM
Subject: [APML]OT-Drift Alignment


Hello All,
    I received my new GM-8 Sat. and saw 1st. light with it last night.  My only previous experience is with a LXD55 mount which I
never tried to drift align.  I have Jerry's CD book and am trying to learn how to drift align.  I am semi-familiar with celestial
coordinates.  I know the meridian goes from Polaris through the zenith.  My question is about the celestial equator.  If my latitude
is 37.21 N, will the celestial equator be 90 degrees from that (about 52.79 degrees from the horizon)?  If I read the article right
it said about 20 degrees above the celestial equator which would put me about 73 degrees from the horizon, which is approaching  the
zenith.  Is this right or am I way off for the meridian adjustment?  I have no view of the western horizon so I will need to use the
eastern for the second alignment.  If I am right for 73 degrees from the horizon for the meridian, can I just rotate the mount in RA
eastward until it's about 20 degrees from the eastern horizon for the second drift adjustment?  I'm using a refractor with diagonal.
Should I have the diagonal oriented so I am looking straight down into the reticle?  Is the North or South drift true north/south or
as it appears in the eyepiece?  I apologize for my ignorance on this but I want to learn this technique so I can take better
pictures without as much guiding input as I have been having to make with the Meade.  Any guidance and/or suggestions would be
GREATLY appreciated.  Thanks!!

Gary
Thaxton, VA



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