Is a Polar Aligning a German equatorial mount difficult?

[jerryaa]

Hi,<br /><br />I'm new to telescopes and considering buying a one with a German equatorial mount. I've read that you have to align it with Polaris each time before using it.<br /><br />Is this very hard to do for a beginner?<br /><br />Thanks in advance.<br /><br />Jerry.

 

[kngavl]

I do believe I have the same as you as for a mount.<br />The first time might take some time but eventualy it'll get easy and will become a second nature. It took me a while but now i can do it quite easily. You don't have to align it every time only unless you want to find stars by their RA and Dec. I had a site that could help you before but I seemed to have deleted it.<br />I hope that helped <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />.<br />

 

[jerryaa]

Thanks for the post.<br /><br />I just posted another question asking opinions on the Star Hoc 6" reflector. The mount does have polar alignment scope. Do you have any thoughts on whether this mount would be somewhat easy to align? <br /><br />http://shop.store.yahoo.com/yhst-1469288697390/6sthocre.html

 

[petepan]

<font color="yellow">Is this very hard to do for a beginner? <br /><br /></font><br /><br />Only if you live in the Southern hemisphere like me.... <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br /><br />There is no 'pole' star for us.......ouch.