When searching for dim objects I've occasionally run out of travel on
my C8 DEC adjustment knob. This usually means that I have to center
the DEC knob, manually "bump" the scope up or down, and then reacquire
the object I was looking for. This was the cause of some frustration
until I came up with a low-tech fix. I taped a pointer (a long nail
that I bent at a right angle) to the lever that is attached to dec screw.
Then I measured the travel and created a grid of the same length (5 cm)
on a
piece of graph paper. I taped this under the nail and viola,
instant indicator. Now I recenter my DEC knob whenever I'm going
to move from object to object and I never hit the end of travel.
Best of all it was quick and easy to do. Here is a picture to show
you what I did.
I received an email from Andre Lefranc from France. He has a way
to level your telescope using parts from the local hardware store.
Take a look here
if you are interested.
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