Hi Richard: It may not be that simple.
On an astronomical telescope you can align the finder scope to the main scope by looking at the same star and using a cross hair eyepiece (which can be checked by rotation). Fixing a finder scope to a mechanical sundial may present an alignment problem. You might get around this by using an alignment telescope whose optical axis is coincident with it's mechanical axis. I have considered using a surveying transit to sight Polaris at culmination and transferring the N-S line to stakes on the ground. This N-S line could then be transferred to the center of the dial. Have Fun, Brooke Richard Koolish wrote: > Amateur astronomers also deal with polar alignment when they have to > set up an equitorial mount. This is usually done with a low power > finder scope (6 to 8 power). If you can attach a finder scope to the > sundial, this would be much better than trying to align by eye. > Some finder scopes just have crosshairs so you have to know the > offset of Polaris from the pole, but some finder scopes have special > reticles and adjustments so you can dial in the date and time to > compensate for the specific position of Polaris with respect to the pole. > > Here's a description of the Meade polar alignment finder > > #814 Polar Alignment Finder: Meade LXD 650 and LXD 750 equatorial mounts > have provision in their polar axes for the addition of the #814 Polar > Alignment Finder, a borescope device that facilitates quick, precise polar > alignment of the telescopes. The reticle internal to the Finder contains > an > etched clock-like scale, the separate Polar Reference Circle, included, > shows the correct position of the North Star (Polaris) on the Finder's > reticle scale at any time and day of the year. > > The AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers) in Cambridge, > Mass., USA, used to have a nice star chart of the area close to the pole that > showed the path of the pole near Polaris. You could easily see the change > with > time, and I use that chart when I polar align my 8" equitorial telescope. > - -
