Balancing the Declination Axis
The first thing we need to do is set the scope on the mount, and balance it. Put your weight on the mount, then the scope. As you look at the mount, you will see the two setting circles on it. One right under the scope tube is the Declination Setting Circle.
![Image](http://stevejjones.co.cc/graphics/albums/images/scales.gif)
Balancing the Right Ascension Axis
Next, we want to tighten the Declination Axis screw, and loosen the other one, for balancing the Right Ascension Axis. The Right Ascension, or R/A axis, is the one that your weight is screwed into. The other setting circle here is for this axis. R/A Setting Circle Once we have loosened the screw holding this axis, we want to get the weight adjusted so that the scope can swing from side to side, again, staying in place wherever you place it. Balancing the scope saves wear and tear on your mount's gears, and allows for easy movement when looking for objects. You never really loosen the dscrews all the way up, but just enough so that the scope moves with just a slight resistance on either axis. Usually, once you have balanced the R/A axis, the weight need not be moved again, so when you take the scope down, just unscrew the weight, shaft and all, and store it this way
Aligning to the North Star
![Image](http://stevejjones.co.cc/graphics/albums/images/setup04.jpg)
The object of adjustment to the latitude, is to have the scope point right at the North Star when the Declination axis is set to 90 degrees, and the R/A axis is set to your latitude.
While aligning the scope to the North Star, have the weight pointing straight down also. With the declination setting circle set exactly to 90 degrees, and the weight pointing straight down, BOTH axis' LOCKED at this point, simply move the Latitude adjustment until the North Star is centred in the scope. You may have to move the base of the mount, or the whole tripod to one side or the other now to centre the North Star. The closer you can get the North Star to the centre of the eyepiece, the better the mount will track, and the more accurate the setting circles will be for finding objects by their "Celestial Coordinates".
![Image](http://stevejjones.co.cc/graphics/albums/images/setup01.jpg)
![Image](http://stevejjones.co.cc/graphics/albums/images/setup02.jpg)
REMEMBER.. the Polar Axis MUST remain pointing at the North Star.
Using the Mount to Locate Objects
Now that we are all set up, balanced and Polar Aligned, we can use the mount to find objects by their "Celestial Coordinates". First, you will notice that the Declination Setting Circle does NOT rotate. It is set at the factory, and needs to remain where it is. The Right Ascension Setting Circle DOES rotate, and is changed when we use it to find objects. To begin, we must first set the scope to a star with a known address. We will use a "circumpolar star", or one that is visible all year long from a Latitude of 40 degrees North... Beta Ursa Major, or Merak. This star is the bottom right star of the bowl of the Big Dipper. Its Celestial Coordinates are..11 hours, 1 Minute of R/A.. so.. we get this star in the centre of our eyepiece, and quickly set the R/A setting circle to 11 Hours. The numbers on this circle represent hours and minutes. on my mount, the divisions are in 10 minute increments. The declination of this star is +56 degrees.. 23 minutes. This should already be where the declination circle is, if you have set up the mount properly. Now, moving quickly, because as the stars move across the sky, the R/A moves with them, find the coordinates of an object you wish to find, and move the scope on its two loosened axis' until both the R/A setting circle, (without touching the R/A circle) AND the Declination circle read the stars address. If you have done everything correctly, the object should be in or near the centre of the eyepiece in the scope. You MAY need to move the scope around just a LITTLE to find the object, but it will be very near to where you are pointing the scope.