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Initial alignment by eyepiece or Rigel Quickfinder

Polaris hour angle is local sidereal - RA of Polaris Polaris RA is 2hr 59 min

Polaris HA = LST-3

You can get LST above or from from Heavens Above for other locations.

This is in 24 hr format counterclockwise looking north. So hour angle/ 2 is standard (12 hr) clock hours going CCW.

HA of 3 is 10:30 (1.5 hrs CCW from 12)

HA of 6 is 9:00 (3 hrs CCW from 12)

HA of 18 is 3:00 (9 hrs CCW from 12)

Using reticle EP,

Set AZ first using a star to the south, a few degrees east of meridian and near the celestial equator.
Then set Alt using a star to the east or west about 20 degrees altitude and near the celestial equator.
Put the star in the center, advance RA to the west a ways, and rotate the EP to put the star on a line of the reticle.
That reticle line is now parallel with RA movement of the mount. (Within error of movement during the time it took to do so.) The direction it drifts is West. North is 90° CCW from that line.
Re-center the star and watch it drift for a bit.
Move the mount in AZ (for a star to the south) or Alt (for a star to the east or west) as appropriate to put the star halfway back to the line. It will continue to move as you are doing this, so it will take some approximation.

Star to S drifts N – Scope is W - Rotate East - CW

Star to S drifts S – Scope is E - Rotate West - CCW

Star to E drifts N – Scope is S - Lower N end of axis

Star to E drifts S – Scope is N - Raise N end of axis

Star to W drifts N – Scope is N - Raise N end of axis

Star to W drifts S – Scope is S - Lower N end of axis

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