<p>Mount a camera on the tripod and take a long exposure. You should be able to determine the concentric circles of the stars paths. The center of the circle is the North pole.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-13T01:21:05.023Z
2014-08-13T01:21:05.023Z
LDC3
<p>I recently moved to southern Mexico (16 degrees N) and I wonder what would be the best way to align my EQ telescope when the polar star is not visible?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T21:16:18.123Z
Polaris should be 16° above the northern horizon.
Keith Thompson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T21:50:34.247Z
I know...I forgot to mention an important factor: I'm surrounded by mountains that block my northern view for like 20°.
betolink
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T22:04:01.830Z
Sounds like you need to figure out where due north is and aim about 4° below the top of the mountains. If I knew a good way to do that I'd post an answer, but a compass, a level, and a protractor might help. (Polaris is about 1° off the celestial north pole anyway.)
Keith Thompson
<amateur-observing><telescope>
How to polar align an equatorial mounted telescope when you are close to the equator?
betolink
# How to polar align an equatorial mounted telescope when you are close to the equator?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-12)

I recently moved to southern Mexico (16 degrees N) and I wonder what would be the best way to align my EQ telescope when the polar star is not visible?

**Tags:** amateur-observing, telescope

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Polaris should be 16° above the northern horizon.  
> **username_0**: I know...I forgot to mention an important factor: I'm surrounded by mountains that block my northern view for like 20°.  
> **username_1**: Sounds like you need to figure out where due north is and aim about 4° below the top of the mountains. If I knew a good way to do that I'd post an answer, but a compass, a level, and a protractor might help. (Polaris is about 1° off the celestial north pole anyway.)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-08-13. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Mount a camera on the tripod and take a long exposure. You should be able to determine the concentric circles of the stars paths. The center of the circle is the North pole.


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