On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 03:34:43 -0700, canopus56
wrote:

I am confused about the east horizon test for polar drift alignment.
Most instructions appear to say that one should find a star due east
on the celestial equator. But the celestial equator crosses the
eastern horizon at a zero degrees altitude. Do you in fact have to
pick a star on the celestial equator somewhat east south east in order
to have a drift alignment star with sufficient altitude? - Canopus56

The reason to use a star near the equator is that it drifts faster.
The reason to pick an eastern star is that it won't set before you
finish if it happens to take longer than you expect to drift align.
"Close enough" is close enough.

Bud

--
The night is just the shadow of the Earth.