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Alignment Question

I am curious to hear if anyone uses any type of tripod markers or something that helps them set their tripod up to have it pointing north? I know some have piers but I am curious as to whether or not this is done with a tripod? Pictures would be great as well!

Clear nights,
Orion EON80ed (the rider) Orion Skyquest XT10i Sirius EQ-G Mount (the horse) Orion ST-80 Starshoot II Color CCD Camera SSAG 40mm, 25mm, 10mm Plossl 13mm Hyperion 5mm TMB Planetary
I set up out on my back lawn.

I've installed and leveled three 12" round stepping stones in the grass where the tripod legs go. If I set my tripod up so that each leg is centered on its stepping stone, then it's in the right place.

It works great.

-Wade Stuff C14, C8, Orion XX14i, Meade 8" ACF, AT6RC, AT102ED, Orion ED80, PST, AP1600GTO, CGE, CG5, ST10-XME/CFW8, QHY8PRO, Optec TCF-s, Microtouch Focuser, Pyxis LE, Hyperstar for C8.

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I've heard of people putting vegetable or soup cans in the ground to put the tripod legs on. You can cut the grass with them installed too!!!
Frank in the NJ Pinelands MI-250 * CGEM-DX * Orion Atlas EQ-G * Vixen GP-DX w/AutoStar * Vixen VC200L/R200SS * Meade 8" f/6.3 SCT * Intes-Micro M73 * Stellarvue 80/480 LOMO Triplet * Takahashi FS-60C * SXVF-H9 * Full Spectrum modded Canon T3i *
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I observe from my deck and have used a black magic marker to outline the position of the three tripod legs on my CGE. Works great and is always very close when making the polar alignment.

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I set up in my driveway so I marked my spot with spray paint - three small marks.
Celestron C8 Orion 80 ED Vixen 70s for guiding CG5-ASGT SSAG PHD Guiding Astronomik CLS EOS clip Astronomik 12nm Ha EOS clip Canon 1000D Canon 300D(a) Celestron 0.63 focal reducer WO 0.8x FF/FR version II My Astrophotography on Flickr
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