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The equatorial mount, or wedge, serves the purpose of imitating the earth's axis of rotation. It accomplishes this by pointing the pivot point at the celestial north pole, which is near Polaris in the constellation Ursa Minor. The Lazy Susan rotates about this polar axis, just as the stars appear to rotate about Polaris. This rotation about that point is referred to as right ascension, and is measured in terms relative to time. (i.e. hours, minutes, seconds, arcminutes and arcseconds.) The march of celestial bodies is an illusion provided by the motion of the observer more so than that of the observed. The angle of the wedge's inclination is the same as the latitude of the observer. (In my case, roughly 41.5 degrees.) In order to allow observation at various latitudes, the wedge should be adjustable, but I haven't given it much conscious thought. Something will bubble up eventually, I'm sure. I added a level, but I haven't gotten my legs yet...they will be the adjustable type which furniture makers refer to as levelers, and will go on the four corners. I am also building a pier and portable tripod for my telescopes, and this scope will be adapted to fit on them, also. The mount, yoke and telescope are very portable, which is important to me. Related TopicsPolar Sundial -shares the same polar inclination/alignment. Map Projections -some discussion of trigonometry in cartography. |