Any idea how to use EQ mounts?

[astroscope]

I've been struggling for while, I still don't know how to use my EQ mount with its RV motor, sky ojects will never stay in the field of view for more than 8 seconds! I'm told that RV motors keep track of the sky object being spotted and will never get it off the field of view.

Thanks in advance.

[aurora]

What does RV stand for?

Do you have a German Equatorial mount? (GEM)

Or is it a computerized fork mount?

Does it have a computer at all, or just a single drive motor for right ascension? Or does it have two motors?

Do you live in the north or south hemisphere? Is there a switch on your telescope for this?

What instructions have you tried to use? do you have anything specific for your telescope? Have you tried any web sites or books?

[Kaptain K]

1) Level the base of the mount.
2) Set the angle of the polar axis to your latitude.
3) point the polar axis at the north celestial pole (Polaris - the north star - will do for a first approximation).
This will get you close. Stars will drift some unless the the alignment is exactly right.

[turbo-1]

Take a look at your mount. It is designed so you can adjust it so the RA axis can be pointed to line up with Polaris (I hope you're in the Northern Hemisphere!). If your scope has setting circles, you can use them to make your scope's main tube line up with the RA axis. Then you adjust the mount until you can see polaris near the center of your finder scope. That will be close enough polar alignment for most observing - just start your RA motor, clutch it in, if necessary, and you're good to go.

Many mounts can be fitted with polar alignment scopes that help you align a bit more accurately (Polaris is not at the celestial north pole, but is slightly offset). I align for photography using my guidescope at fairly high power, and a chart of the celestial pole.

[Kaptain K]

I forgot to ask - What kind of scope do you have (brand and model).

[astroscope]

Thanks guys for your answers, here's the scope I got.

http://www.polarisationsbrillen.de./ebay/images/optrons/900-130-ganz1.jpg

I got it from Germany, It's Optrons 900-130mm 5" not that powerful, I find it suitable though as a beginner.

[Dave Mitsky]

There's an HTML version of a PDF tutorial on using an equatorial mount at http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:wiLXZZmM9-MJ:www.bushnell.com/customer_service/manuals/telescopes/Refractor_Equatorial_Mount.pdf+equatorial+mount&hl=en

Two pages on the topic of polar alignment can be found at the following URLs:

http://pulsar.netfirms.com/Align.htm

http://www.astunit.com/tutorials/polar.htm

Keep in mind that the setting circles on most inexpensive equatorial mounts are not very accurate. If you want to use them to locate an object, the technique of offsetting from a nearby bright star works fairly well.

http://www.telescopesa.za.org/TGHHowTo1.htm

Dave Mitsky

[astroscope]

Thanks Dave for taking the time I appreciate it, and I like the photos you posted yesterady