Simple Setting Circles for Dobsonian Telescope

A quick way to achieve a setting circles function on a Dobsonian telescope - to find objects quickly. Admittedly this is not the most accurate method, but it’s simple, quick, cheap and works reasonably well.

[@Hoobz01]

I’ve been looking for a good way to do this, saw the other clips with the print out compass sheets. But this method is the one I’ll do. Thank you for going to the trouble of sharing fellow Aussie. Off to Bunnings soon 😁 Cheers 🍻

[@MountainFisher]

I saw another guy on YT talk about using the angle finder, I use a electric goniometer with a magnetic base. I don't have a Dobsonian , but an AltAz without setting circles, but I have Polaris to zero off and a compass with a compensator for true north versus magnetic north.

[@ADF_Cable]

Ripper of a solution! Thanks! Clear skies!

[@yellowlynx]

Neat! I used a lazy susan ring and printed the marings on it, and used a cheap digital inclinometer

[@oceaniccurrents]

Is it necessary to align the setting circle to true south/north or can you just find a known star or even planet and just move the setting circle to that azimuth degree? I really like this design and seems a lot more simple than taking the base apart 👏🏻

[@peterallison57]

Hi LoLo, I just aim the telescope at a known star, find the it's azimuth compass reading on a planetarium app and then place a marker on the ground below that reading on the plastic tube. That marker is then the reference point for all other azimuth directions. Just slew the scope and the tube moves with the scope to the required next azimuth. As I say in the video, this method is not particularly accurate, but it gets you close enough.