<p>I think I mis-read your question before. Let me rephrase it to make sure I understand. In step D (moving the scope from Sirius to M42), that process took 5 minutes to complete. Or maybe it took 30 seconds to complete, but you then took a 4.5 minute coffee break :-). So during that 5 minutes of time since you calibrated the setting circle, M42 has drifted another 5 minutes to the west.</p>

<ol>
<li>Yes, the object will be 5 minutes west of the eyepiece. Since your setting circle does not update during that time, you need to position the scope 5m to the west, or to 5h 30m right ascension (not 5h 40m R.A.).</li>
<li>Yes. Before moving to the next object, you should reset the right ascension setting circle to the coordinate of the current object. Then move to the next object. Then compensate for the time it took to move the scope. Of course, switch to a low power eyepiece just before starting the move to increase the chance that the next object will be in the field of view.</li>
<li>Mechanical setting circles are useful for small jumps. I have used them on my scope to locate Venus near the Sun. I have also used the circles on the scope at my club's observatory to locate planets in the day. (That is slightly different that your setup since the club's scope is permanently mounted, professionally made, and has really large circles -- all of which help to reduce any errors.) If I remember correctly, the "rule of thumb" is that mechanical circles should be about the same diameter as the optics in order to be "accurate". A 200 mm reflector (the diameter of the mirror = 200 mm) should have circles that are about 200 mm in diameter. But anything should definitely get you close to the target.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-04T23:17:01.867Z
Great answer! Specially when you say that I need to reset the setting circle to the current object before moving to the next one =)
Daniel Bonetti
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-04T17:33:00.807Z
2018-01-04T17:33:00.807Z
JohnHoltz
<p>I'm a little bit confused about the setting circle of my EQ5 mount. Basically, I'm trying to find M42 nebula using Sirius star as reference. So, considere that I did the following steps:</p>

<pre><code>A) Polar aligned for south pole
B) Pointed the telescope to Sirius star
C) Adjusted the RA wheel to 6h45m and DEC wheel to -16º42'
</code></pre>

<p>Now, I want to view the M42 nebula basing only in the RA and DEC wheels (without using the finderscope or whatever). </p>

<p>Then, I did:</p>

<pre><code>D) Changed the coordinates in the EQ5 mount to match RA 5h35m and DEC -5º23
E) Spent 5 minutes performing the step above (D)
F) Looked in the eyepiece
</code></pre>

<p>So my questions are: </p>

<p><strong>1)</strong> After doing all these steps above, will the M42 nebula be 5 minutes away from the center of my eyepiece? So instead of using RA 5h35m I will need to use RA 5h40m?(??)</p>

<p><strong>2)</strong> If <em>yes</em>, will I need to perform all the above steps every time that I want to see a new object? I mean, as fast as I can, to minimize the RA error...</p>

<p><strong>3)</strong> And if the answer is <em>yes</em> again to Question (2), how useful is the setting circle under these conditions for you?</p>

<p>I will appreciate any kind of help.</p>

<p>[]s</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-04T01:48:56.980Z
Does it look like the scope was pointing in the direction of M42? You should be able to look through the finder or along the tube to see if it is close to pointing in the right direction. (M42 is visible to the unaided eye if you have a reasonably dark sky.) The setting circle may need to be reversed for Southern Hemisphere viewing if it is not built for both hemispheres.
JohnHoltz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-04T01:59:44.543Z
Hey John, thanks for you response. Yes, I can see that it's pointing to the right spot. I know I can find M42 easily, I already took a picture of it. My real problem was concerning the "usefulness" of the setting circle when no clock drive is present in the mount.
Daniel Bonetti
<newtonian-telescope><declination><right-ascension>
Using setting circle for Right Ascension
Daniel Bonetti
# Using setting circle for Right Ascension

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-03)

I'm a little bit confused about the setting circle of my EQ5 mount. Basically, I'm trying to find M42 nebula using Sirius star as reference. So, considere that I did the following steps:
A) Polar aligned for south pole
B) Pointed the telescope to Sirius star
C) Adjusted the RA wheel to 6h45m and DEC wheel to -16º42'

Now, I want to view the M42 nebula basing only in the RA and DEC wheels (without using the finderscope or whatever). 
Then, I did:
D) Changed the coordinates in the EQ5 mount to match RA 5h35m and DEC -5º23
E) Spent 5 minutes performing the step above (D)
F) Looked in the eyepiece

So my questions are: 
1) After doing all these steps above, will the M42 nebula be 5 minutes away from the center of my eyepiece? So instead of using RA 5h35m I will need to use RA 5h40m?(??)
2) If yes, will I need to perform all the above steps every time that I want to see a new object? I mean, as fast as I can, to minimize the RA error...
3) And if the answer is yes again to Question (2), how useful is the setting circle under these conditions for you?
I will appreciate any kind of help.
[]s

**Tags:** newtonian-telescope, declination, right-ascension

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Does it look like the scope was pointing in the direction of M42? You should be able to look through the finder or along the tube to see if it is close to pointing in the right direction. (M42 is visible to the unaided eye if you have a reasonably dark sky.) The setting circle may need to be reversed for Southern Hemisphere viewing if it is not built for both hemispheres.  
> **username_0**: Hey John, thanks for you response. Yes, I can see that it's pointing to the right spot. I know I can find M42 easily, I already took a picture of it. My real problem was concerning the "usefulness" of the setting circle when no clock drive is present in the mount.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-01-04. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

I think I mis-read your question before. Let me rephrase it to make sure I understand. In step D (moving the scope from Sirius to M42), that process took 5 minutes to complete. Or maybe it took 30 seconds to complete, but you then took a 4.5 minute coffee break :-). So during that 5 minutes of time since you calibrated the setting circle, M42 has drifted another 5 minutes to the west.

1. Yes, the object will be 5 minutes west of the eyepiece. Since your setting circle does not update during that time, you need to position the scope 5m to the west, or to 5h 30m right ascension (not 5h 40m R.A.).
2. Yes. Before moving to the next object, you should reset the right ascension setting circle to the coordinate of the current object. Then move to the next object. Then compensate for the time it took to move the scope. Of course, switch to a low power eyepiece just before starting the move to increase the chance that the next object will be in the field of view.
3. Mechanical setting circles are useful for small jumps. I have used them on my scope to locate Venus near the Sun. I have also used the circles on the scope at my club's observatory to locate planets in the day. (That is slightly different that your setup since the club's scope is permanently mounted, professionally made, and has really large circles -- all of which help to reduce any errors.) If I remember correctly, the "rule of thumb" is that mechanical circles should be about the same diameter as the optics in order to be "accurate". A 200 mm reflector (the diameter of the mirror = 200 mm) should have circles that are about 200 mm in diameter. But anything should definitely get you close to the target.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Great answer! Specially when you say that I need to reset the setting circle to the current object before moving to the next one =)  

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