
Attaching the Equatorial Mount
After the tripod is set up, you are ready to attach the equatorial mount. The equatorial mount is the platform to which the telescope attaches and allows you to move the telescope in right acsension and declination. The mount is also adjustable so you can orient the axis of rotation so that it is parallel with the Earth’s axis of rotation (see the section on “Polar Alignment”). To attach the equatorial mount to the tripod:
1.Insert the base of the equatorial mount into the top of the central column.
2.Rotate the equatorial mount on the central column until the holes in the mount line up with those in the central column and the dec opening (where the counterweight shaft will go) is positioned directly over one of the tripod legs.
3.Insert the three remaining
4.Tighten the screws to hold the equatorial mount in place.
Counterweight | Equatorial Mount | |
Shaft Opening | ||
|
Central Column
Figure
8 • Assembling Your