For visual use you don't have to be particularly
well polar aligned to keep a star in the FOV for
an appreciable time. Just plonk the scope down
with your best estimate of where north is, maybe
use a compass.

Adam


--
Eschew obfuscation. Eliminate such idiom previous
to rejoining.
"Edward Smith" wrote in
message
...
OK. The obvious answer here is I don't, at
least with any accuracy.

I left the telescope inside tonight. There were
high level clouds to
the north and I couldn't make out Polaris. I
considered taking the
telescope out anyway but left it inside and am
settling for
Binoculars. That brought up the question about
how to polar align
when I couldn't make out Polaris.

I had some thoughts. First, I could get a good
polar alignment and
simply make reference marks on both the ground
where the tripod was
set (probably drive some tent stakes into the
earth) and on the mount.
Then I could recreate at least a rough polar
alignment in my most
common viewing location (read, back yard)
anytime I wanted.

I could also do it by simply using a compass,
correct for the magnetic
deviation at my location, and use my lattitude.

Because I am just starting to explore with the
telescope and have been
having "finder scope alignment issues", I
decided to pass on the
telescope until I could get a good polar
alignment (which I can do
most nights, I should be out tomorrow).

Any other suggestions?