Leveling Meade ETX Telescope Tripods
for
Polar Alignment and ALT/AZ
Alignment with buble levels Polar alignment
is required for astrophotograhy. Polar alignment
requires a properly leveled tripod. Leveling is the most
important and easiest operation to help your GOTO accuracy.
Using the Meade ETX and DS telescopes in the Alt/Az alignment
postion require only leveling the tripod. You must also
level the fork arms of the Meade ETX telescopes in Polar
position for Polar alignment.
Consider that if your tripod is not level, horizontal movement
will NOT be horizontal. It will go up one side and down
the other side. The vertial movement of the Telescope Optical
Tube not be plumb.
While the built-in bubble level indicates
LEVEL, the tripod platform is actually NOT level
The bubble in the right picture may
be difficult to see, the bubble is at the 11 o'clock
position with the built in level centered
You should be
leveling the platform, not the the built-in bubble level
indicator.
Meade 883 deluxe field tripod
Meade 884 deluxe field tripod
Level the Telescope Tube in the Alt/Az home position:
Level your tripod first and then level your telescope in the
Alt/Az home position.
Level the fork arm in the Polar Home Position for Polar alignment
with buble levels:
If the fork arm is not level, vertical movement will not be
plumb and you wonder why you GOTO is no good. Polar Alignment
must begin with the fork arm leveled.