Before Scott got here to build my WSO, I had used my XT10i Dob to point DIRECTLY to Polaris. I then dropped the OTA down to Horizontal, and hung a plumb bob off the top/center of the OTA to the Ground, and marked that location with a stake.
Then noted EXACTLY where the OTA was pointing (in my case my house) and marked THAT location also... If you don't have an obstacle, you could have the OTA point all the way down to the ground maybe, or have someone hold something mebbe?
In my case I used a Green Laser, but you could as easily just sight through your finder (which would likely focus close enough).
The line between the two will be within 1 degree accurate of Due North.
Then Scott just transferred that "north pointing line" to the pier J-bolts template...
I trusted this method more than using magnetic declination offset (mostly because I wasn't sure of the accuracy of my compass!)...
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Re: WidowMaker's observatory project under way!
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