This weekend I finally managed to get a couple of hours to spend with my telescope.
I tried out the polar alignment, in preparation for astro-imaging. This the first time I have tried the polar alignment method and it involves knowing your current latitude along with how and where to find the Southern Pole Star - Sigma Octanis.

Sigma Octanis is not viewable with the naked eye so binoculars are needed to find it. Once found, you centre the star in the veiwfinder of the telescope and with a couple of other things, you’ve aligned the scope to the south celestial pole.

Well, I didn’t find Sigma Octanis last night. Hopefully tonight will be the go.

The image shows me Meade LX200R 10” SCT telescope mounted on a wonderful Milburn wedge. The scope is currently pointing at where I believe (according to compass, and angle of lattitude) the SCP is.

I’m so glad this whole topic is interesting and a challenge for me, else I would have thrown in the towel a while ago.

Tags: astronomy, astrophotography, telescope