VI. Balance Mount

The purpose of balancing the mount is to improve its performance by reducing
the load on the mount's drive system. The declination axis is the most important
since this is the axis that it driven while the mount is tracking an object

  1. Start with the counterweight bar and telescope horizontal to the ground
  2. Declination axis:
    1. Turn on declination axis until scope is above mount
    2. Loosen the DEC clutch to check balance
    3. Move the telescope forward or backward to attain balance
  3. Right ascension axis:
    1. Loosen the RA clutch and position the telescope off to one side
      of the mount until the counterweight bar is horizontal
    2. Release the telescope to check balance
    3. Adjust the counterweight position on the bar as necessary to balance
    4. Best balance:
      1. Slightly toward counterweight side when the telescope
        is on the west side of the mount
      2. Slightly toward the telescope side when the telescope
        is on the east side of the mount
  4. Turn on the control panel
  5. Set the rate
    1. Sideral: accounts of a single rotation of the Earth, which
      is fine for observing
    2. King: accounts for atmospheric refraction. Best for photography
    3. Solar
    4. Lunar
  6. Set TVC (Causes stepper to catch up after slewing
    1. Usually set at 3rd to 5th bar
    2. Watch for momentary drift after slewing in declination